US President Donald Trump has distanced himself from Israel’s recent airstrike on Qatar, stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the decision unilaterally.
The strike targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, killing five members, but reportedly spared senior officials engaged in ceasefire negotiations with the US.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the operation, saying it doesn’t advance Israel or America’s goals. He assured Qatari officials that such incidents won’t happen again on their soil and directed efforts to finalize a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar. Trump also emphasized that eliminating Hamas is a worthy goal.
The Qatari government condemned the attack as a “criminal assault” and disputed the White House’s claim that they were informed about the impending strike in advance. The communication from the US came during the attack, not before. Former US Ambassador to Israel, Edward Djerejian, noted that Israel seems not to be paying attention to US national security interests.
The incident has sparked concerns about coordination and trust between the US and Israel, raising questions about the alliance between the two countries. Trump’s international image as a strongman leader may be damaged, despite potentially having minimal impact on his domestic standing.