Trump: I tried to warn Qatar about Israeli strikes, prevent attack

President Trump distances himself from Israeli airstrikes on Hamas meeting in Doha, says Netanyahu made the decision without him but suggests bombing could “serve as an opportunity for peace.”

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump distanced himself from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to strike Hamas terrorists gathering in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday and claimed he had sought to give Qatar advance warning of the attack.

In his first public comments on the Israeli strikes, Trump said Israel had conducted the bombing “unilaterally.”

The president called the location of Israel’s attacks “unfortunate,” while also emphasizing that the killing of Hamas leaders was a “worthy goal.”

“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account Tuesday.

“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

Trump claimed he instructed his Mideast envoy to warn Qatar of the incoming Israeli strikes but did not say whether he received advance notice from Jerusalem.

“I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack. I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW!”

Doha said the US did not notify them of the strikes until after the bombing had already begun.

Shortly after the attack, Trump spoke with Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

Following his conversation with the Israeli premier, Trump said that the “unfortunate” attack could nevertheless serve as an “opportunity for peace.”

“I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE. I also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, and thanked them for their support and friendship to our Country,” Trump wrote.

“I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil. I have directed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to finalize the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Tuesday’s airstrikes, which targeted a gathering of Hamas’ most senior leaders in Doha, killed six people, according to a statement by Hamas. The dead included Humam al-Hayya, the son of the co-chairman of the terror group’s politburo; al-Hayya’s office director; three bodyguards; and a Qatari security officer. Hamas denied that any of its high-ranking officials at Tuesday’s meeting were killed.

The bombings marked the first time Israel has carried out airstrikes in Qatari territory.