Report: Trump warned Netanyahu not to bomb Qatar again

The president reportedly warned Netanyahu not to repeat the airstrike against a Hamas gathering in Qatar, calling the bombing “unacceptable.”

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israel’s military strike on a meeting of senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, earlier this week and warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to carry out additional attacks inside Qatar, according to an Axios report published on Thursday.

Citing two unnamed sources, the report claimed that during their phone call Tuesday, shortly after the IDF airstrike targeting Hamas’ politburo, Trump ripped Israel’s decision to carry out the strike inside the Qatari capital and demanded no additional attacks be carried out in the Arab Gulf state.

“It’s unacceptable,” Trump was quoted as saying during his initial phone call with Netanyahu on Tuesday after the strike. “I demand that you do not repeat it.”

According to Axios, Israel did not consult with the Trump administration prior to the attack and only notified the White House after IDF warplanes had already launched their missiles.

The strike “infuriated” the White House, the report claimed, and left Trump’s advisers stunned.

Publicly, Trump distanced himself from the strike, saying he was “unhappy” about the attack. “I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. I was very unhappy about every aspect,” he said.

A source close to the president told Axios that Trump was displeased by how Israeli leaders handled the issue, naming both Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who has frequently served as Netanyahu’s liaison with the US.

Since Tuesday’s strike, Netanyahu and Trump have spoken by phone twice, with the president venting his frustration over Israel’s decision to attack and questioning the goals of the strike.

On Wednesday, despite Trump’s warning, Netanyahu alluded to possible follow-up strikes in Qatar, comparing the Israeli operation to the US invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists: You either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will,” Netanyahu said.

On Tuesday, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter told Fox News that Israel would not hesitate to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar in the future.

“If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them the next time,” Leiter said.