Trump Advisers Furious Over Israel’s Strike on Hamas Leaders in Qatar
WASHINGTON — Outrage and frustration are brewing among some of President Donald Trump’s advisers following Israel’s surprise strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. What has angered them the most is the lack of involvement or warning given to the Qataris.
President Trump himself was only briefed on the strike moments before it commenced, not by Israel but by Chairman of the Joint Staff Gen. Dan Caine, a US official revealed. Trump immediately instructed White House special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris, as he has a strong relationship with them.
However, by the time Witkoff managed to reach out, it was already too late, leaving the US officials infuriated. Adding to the frustration was the fact that Witkoff had met with one of Netanyahu’s top advisers, Ron Dermer, the day before, but was not given any heads up about the impending strikes.
“I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not a good situation. But I will say this, we want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down,” Trump expressed to reporters on Tuesday evening, hinting at a forthcoming detailed statement.
Hamas leaders have long utilized Doha as a base outside Gaza. The strike specifically targeted residential buildings sheltering several Hamas political bureau members, as confirmed by Qatar’s foreign ministry.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump instructed Witkoff to notify the Qataris about the imminent attack promptly. However, Qatar quickly refuted this claim, asserting they were caught off guard by the strike and only heard bombs falling in Doha when it was too late.
In a follow-up statement on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged that Witkoff’s call to the Qataris came too late to prevent the attack. He emphasized that the decision to strike was solely Netanyahu’s and not his own, expressing disappointment that Israel’s actions did not align with his regional goals.
The events of the day highlighted the fragile nature of Trump’s peace efforts in Gaza, his strained relationship with Netanyahu, and the importance of maintaining Gulf allies. The White House’s response sought to distance Trump from Netanyahu’s decision while preserving ties with Israel.
Nevertheless, this is not the first time Trump has been blindsided by Israel’s offensives beyond its borders. Similar instances in Syria and Gaza have previously irked the president, fueling his frustration towards Netanyahu’s actions.
The fact that the strikes occurred in Qatar further deepened the sense of betrayal in the White House. Trump had visited Qatar in May, emphasizing the strong military cooperation between the two nations at al-Udeid air base.
Qatar has also endeavored to cultivate a positive relationship with Trump, including gifting the US a luxury Boeing 747 jet for use as Air Force One. – CNN
