US President Donald Trump on Tuesday insisted that Israel’s decision to launch an attack on Qatar was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not by the US Republican administration.
Trump added that a unilateral attack on Qatar would not serve American or Israeli interests.
Israel reportedly launched an airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas political leaders. However, the move was widely condemned in the Middle East for fear of sparking new tensions in the region.
Hamas said five of its members were killed, including the son of Hamas’s exiled leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya.
Trump said he had instructed US envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar of the attack in advance, but it came too late to prevent it.
Qatar denied the allegations, saying the call from US officials was made after the explosion had already taken place in Doha.
Trump also assured Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, that it would not happen again, while admitting that he was embarrassed by the location of the attack.
Qatar is seen as a key US ally in the Gulf and has often been a mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, including efforts to free Israeli hostages and discuss a post-conflict plan for Gaza.
After the attack, Trump reportedly reached out to Netanyahu and Sheikh Tamim to defuse tensions.
