Trump Expresses Discontent Over Israeli Strike on Doha
On Tuesday, September 9, an uncommon admonishment emerged from US President Donald Trump towards Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israel’s military actions against Hamas within the borders of Qatar. Trump denied having any prior knowledge or involvement in the decisions that led to this particular incident. Despite being conducted by a close ally of the US, the assault was not well received by Trump, who remained largely in the dark about the move until after it took place.
Established as a key intermediary in the peace negotiations involving Israel and Hamas, Qatar was instrumental in working towards the termination of warfare in Gaza, as well as aiding in the recovery of captives held by Palestinian entities. The President openly expressed his displeasure regarding the attack, articulating concerns over the impact on affairs between the respective nations. ‘This entire situation does not delight me,’ Trump stated candidly to the press during a seldom departure to a Washington D.C. eating place.
He continued, ‘Our main objective is to ensure the safe return of the hostages, however, we are displeased with today’s unprecedented happenings.’ The Israeli assault on Doha, the capital of Qatar, came with high geopolitical stakes; Qatar, situated at the heart of the Gaza peace talks, host to a massive US airbase, and strategic pivot of Trump’s Middle East tour this year, serves as a key node of American strategic interests.
Moreover, the emirate, known for its immense reserves in fossil fuels, had recently presented the US and President Trump with a high-end, Boeing 747-8 jet for executive usage. This act drew substantial attention, sparking significant ethical considerations regarding the acceptance of such extravagant gifts from foreign nations.
Trump, underlining the foreign nature of the decision, stated, ‘The final decision to carry out this operation was solely in the district of Prime Minister Netanyahu, not at my command.’ The President then went on to comment about his view of the nation where the strikes took place, ‘I hold Qatar in high regard as a stalwart partner and good friend of the United States, hence I express deep unhappiness over the chosen location for today’s attack.’
He did admit, however, that he still thinks the cause of dismantling Hamas is a ‘valued objective.’ In appraising the situation, he expressed concern over the marked impact of such unilateral actions by Israel occurring within the jurisdiction of a sovereign country and US ally. ‘Bombing Qatar, a strong ally of ours who has consistently shown courage and commitment in brokering peace alongside us, does not align with the strategic objectives of either Israel or the United States,’ Trump said.
The President took pains to emphasize that the White House was unaware of the impending attack by Israel. He stated that they had been informed by the US Military regarding an operation by Israel against Hamas, based unfortunately in part of Doha, only after it had occurred.
In the aftermath of these events, Trump confirmed that he had engaged in a dialogue with Netanyahu. In an effort to draw a silver lining from the circumstances, he stated, ‘The Prime Minister informed me that he aspires for peace. I am hopeful that, despite the unfortunate circumstances, this incident might serve as an impetus toward a peaceful resolution.’
Despite international outcry against the Israeli incursion, President Trump reassured that ‘We have operated in conjunction in the past, and we will continue to coordinate our actions in the future.’ Qatar’s protest against the said attack provoked immediate responses from the Trump administration, directing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to wrap up an agreement regarding defense cooperation with Doha.
Trump spoke about the undertaking he had made with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a phone conversation, assuring him that ‘Such an occurrence will not be repeated on their land.’ This came after Doha took a firm stance insisting that they had not received any advance warning about the attack.
The Qatari foreign ministry spokesman described the sequence of events stating, ‘The call from an American official notifying us of the attack arrived as the sounds of explosions from the Israeli assault echoed through Doha.’ Once again, Qatar found itself in a difficult position, trapped in the midst of the turbulent happenings of the Middle East.
Of particular concern was the fact that the U.S. Al Udeid airbase in Qatar was the target of missile attacks by Iran in June. This was an act of reprisal by Iran in response to US directed attacks on Iranian nuclear installations. As such, these recurring political tensions continue to place Qatar in a difficult and often precarious geopolitical position.