The United States has said that Israel’s strike against Qatar’s Hamas targets “will not promote Israel or the United States’ targets” and added that President Donald Trump “feels very bad about the attack.”
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt read Trump’s statement in a briefing Tuesday. It said the United States was notified of Israel’s attack on Hamas and the strike took place “very unfortunately” in the capital Doha.
It describes Qatar as “the sovereign state and close allies of the United States who are working hard to take courageously to promote peace with us.”
Hamas said six people were killed during the strike, including a member of the Katari security forces, but the group said its leadership team survived.
The Israeli military said it adopted a “precision strike” targeting senior Hamas leaders, using “precision ammunition.” Israeli media reported that the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, which fired 10 ammunition at a single target.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorized the strike and Hamas leaders would have “no immunity”.
Levitt said in a White House briefing Tuesday: “President Trump directs the envoy immediately [Steve] Witkoff informed Kataris about the upcoming attack. The president believes that Qatar is a powerful ally and friend of the United States. ”
She added: “The President also spoke with the Emir and the Prime Minister of Qatar and thanked them for their support and friendship with our country. He assured them that this kind of thing would not happen again on their land.”
“Hamas that eliminate the pain of those living in Gaza is a worthwhile goal,” Levitt said.
The attack took place Tuesday afternoon and video showed a badly damaged building in Doha.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the strike “in the most powerful term” and said the attack was a “blatant violation” of international law.
Later it was said that Katari officials did not notify Israel of strike in advance, which contradicted the U.S. statement.
“The communication received from a U.S. official was amid the explosion,” Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in an article on X.
Leavitt did not specify when the United States will notify the Qatar attack.
Qatar has been hosting the Politburo in Hamas since 2012 and has played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between groups and Israel since the October 7 attack.
This is also a close ally of the United States. About 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed at the U.S. Air Force Base in Al-udeid outside Doha. in May, Trump announces ‘historic’ economic agreement signed between the two countries He is talking about at least $1.2 trillion (£89 billion).
Qatar also recently presented Trump with a $400 million aircraft as an “unconditional gift” to serve as the official aircraft of the U.S. President New Air Force One.
Hamas said their negotiating team in Doha survived Tuesday’s attack, adding that the lawsuit “no doubt Netanyahu and its government do not want to reach any peace agreement”.
It said the U.S. government is “jointly responsible” due to its ongoing support for Israel.
Shortly after the strike, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying the attack was a “completely independent Israeli operation.”
“Israel initiated Israel, Israel carried out it, and Israel assumed full responsibility,” the statement said.
A few days before the attack, Hamas said it welcomed “some ideas” of the U.S. on how to get to Gaza’s ceasefire and was discussing how they could be “turned into a comprehensive agreement.”
The White House said in a statement that Trump believes that “unfortunate “attacks” can be an opportunity for peace,” Netanyahu told him after the attack “he wants to achieve peace and peace.”
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