The White House said President Trump was dismayed by the location of the strike, on a key U.S. ally in the region. The administration was made aware of the strike as Israel was attacking Hamas.
Qatar accused Israel of violating international norms and laws, stating the operation presented a threat to the “security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday quoted the president saying Israel’s strike in Qatar was not in the U.S.’s interests and that he “feels very bad” about the location of the attack.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and greatly taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” Leavitt told reporters during a Tuesday press briefing.
“The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States, and feels very badly about the location of this attack,” Leavitt added. “President Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released and this war to end now.”
The administration was notified of the strike by the U.S. military, Leavitt said Tuesday.
Axios reported the U.S. military saw Israeli jets flying east toward the Gulf, and when they requested information, Israeli bombs were already dispatched. The press secretary said the president directed special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatari officials of the attack.
Qatar dismissed the comments, saying officials were informed once missiles hit the building.
“The statements being circulated about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are baseless,” said Majed Al-Ansari, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson. “The communication received from one of the American officials came during the sound of explosions resulting from the Israeli attack in Doha.”
The strike was condemned by France and the United Kingdom, two close U.S. allies, both of whom have announced plans to recognize the independent state of Palestine.
Hamas claimed that its top negotiators in Doha survived the attack, but five of its members were killed.
In Washington, D.C., Republicans and Democrats were divided over the strike, with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, saying he was “not particularly troubled by that. Israel deserves to be able to take out Hamas.”
But Democrats warned it risked escalating conflict in the region and endangering the lives of hostages held by Hamas.
“I unequivocally condemn Israel’s attack on Qatar, a neutral nation that has mediated peace talks for nearly two years between Israel and Hamas,” said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
