(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump “feels very badly” about Israel’s strike on Hamas targets in Qatar and directed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to warn Doha ahead of the attack, the White House said on Tuesday.
Hamas said five of its members were killed in the strike in Doha, including the son of senior official Khalil al-Hayya.
The group, which carried out the October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel, has maintained a political presence in Qatar for years.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said U.S. military officials notified the administration that the Israeli strike was imminent. Trump then instructed Witkoff to alert Qatari authorities.
After the strike, Trump spoke separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
He assured Doha’s ruler that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil,” Leavitt said, describing the attack as an “unfortunate incident.”
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard in bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” she added.
The U.S. counts Qatar as a critical Gulf ally and has leaned on it to mediate in ceasefire and hostage negotiations with Hamas. Washington continues to push for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal while seeking a long-term plan for postwar Gaza.
