Tension has erupted between Washington and Tel Aviv after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s military strike in Qatar.
Trump said he was not informed ahead of the operation and insisted the United States played no role in the attack.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Tuesday, Trump admitted he was “not thrilled” about the situation.
He stressed that while eliminating Hamas remained a worthy goal, Israel’s strike inside Doha, a close U.S. ally, undermined peace efforts.
“We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way this happened,” Trump said.
He added that the U.S. military only alerted him moments before the attack, which left Washington scrambling to inform Qatar.
The incident carries major diplomatic weight. Qatar has served as a key mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas over the Gaza war. It also hosts a major U.S. airbase and has recently deepened ties with Washington.
The Gulf state even gifted the U.S. a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet for Trump’s presidential use, a move that sparked ethical debates.
“This was Netanyahu’s decision, not mine,” Trump wrote later on social media.
He described Qatar as a “strong ally and friend” while assuring Doha that such a strike would not happen again on their soil.
According to Trump, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff tried to alert Qatari officials, but the call came too late as explosions had already begun in Doha.
Despite his criticism, Trump struck a cautious tone, suggesting the incident could still “serve as an opportunity for peace.”
He confirmed he had spoken with Netanyahu, who, he said, reaffirmed a desire for peace in the region.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump delivered a “very clear” message of concern to the Israeli leader.
The rebuke is unusual, given Trump’s consistent support for Netanyahu since returning to office in January.
Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, downplayed the tension, telling Fox News that the U.S. and Israel remained “united in eliminating Hamas.”
Meanwhile, Qatar expressed outrage, saying it had received no advance warning.
“The American call came as explosions sounded in Doha,” said Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari.
To calm the fallout, Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a defense cooperation agreement with Doha.
He also assured Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a phone call that Israel’s strike would not be repeated.
The episode has placed Qatar back at the center of Middle East turmoil.
Just months earlier, Iran targeted the U.S. Al Udeid airbase in Doha with missiles, retaliating against U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites.
For now, Trump’s rare rebuke of Netanyahu signals a potential shift in Washington’s tone, even as both nations maintain a united front against Hamas.
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