Israel’s Qatar strike has ties to the U.S. relations with major Middle East allies

this White House The rare Israeli public condemnation has put Washington in an awkward position between two major allies due to strikes against the Hamas leaders in Qatar.

The Trump administration will almost never break Open with Israel About military movements. But analysts say the deeper question is how much the United States knows in advance and whether it quietly provides blessings.

Hamas said the strike killed five of the members but failed to assassinate the group’s negotiating delegation. Katari security officials also died, highlighting the risk of escalation when Israeli operations poured into the territory of U.S. partners.

“When it comes to American knowledge and when, there is a lot of opaque information,” said Daniel Benaim, a senior fellow at the Middle East Academy. “But the president is clear that he is not satisfied with the substance and process that happened yesterday. After such a strike, such a public statement from the U.S. president is very noteworthy in itself.”

Israel strike targets Hamas leadership in Qatar

A few days before the strike, Trump sent Hamas what he called a “final warning” urging the group to accept U.S.-supported proposal to release Hostages from Gaza. The timing has sparked speculation about whether the strike is related to Washington’s frustration with Hamas and whether Israel at least acquiesced to the U.S. approval.

“It seems that the Israelis will not do that,” said Michael Makovsky, CEO of the Jewish National Security Institute.

“They have a U.S. base in that country and with the hostages negotiations, everything is going on.

But Trump had harsh words on the strike Tuesday, writing that the Truth Society “will not promote Israel or the United States’ goals.”

The White House claimed it learned from the U.S. military that the missile was moving and warned the Qataris. Qatar denies getting any high-level warnings.

If Washington knew in advance, why would he scold him? If not, how could Israel act so freely in the US military-led airspace? Either option can cause discomfort issues regarding U.S. leverage.

Qatar threatens to ‘retaliate’ Israeli strike against Hamas

“Israel will not do anything,” said Dr. Yoel Guzansky, senior fellow and head of the Gulf Program at the Israel National Security Institute. “It is understandable that the Trump administration wants to be away from itself because it has a good relationship with the Qataris.”

This relationship is based on hard power. Al Udeid, the largest overseas air force base in the United States, is located on soil in Katari and has hosted more than 10,000 U.S. troops. Qatar is the top buyer of American weapons and recently gave it to the government with its new Air Force One jet. However, this did not stop Israel’s strike. “If you really don’t know, then we have a big problem because Israel surprised the United States, which could damage the U.S. relations with Katari,” Guzanski said.

Others believe that the United States may be more consistent than its words suggest. “The fact that the US defense in Al Udeid has not targeted the Israeli jets is a good indication that Washington is not against strikes,” said Ahmad Sharawi, a researcher at the Democratic Defense Foundation.

But the Qatar International Media Office said Qatar is reevaluating its security partnership with the United States “absolutely wrong”.

“This is a clear attempt to drive a wedge between Qatar and the United States”

On September 10, 2025, the day after the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders, the vehicle stopped at a red traffic light. (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)

Gulf relations strains

The echo extends beyond Washington and Doha. The strike has the potential to put subtle propaganda between Israel, the United States and Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia, which have been under quiet but persistent pressure to join the Abraham Agreement – a normalized deal between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco, Morocco, Sudan, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.

“Regional power dynamics are changing,” Benaim said. “The Gulf states are a little unconcerned about the threat to Iran, and Iran is getting closer and closer, and they see Israel is engaged in activities throughout the region, whether it is Syria or within Iran or now Doha.”

Israel’s Doha strike conveys a decisive message that terror will find no safe haven

The difference is obvious. Gulf leaders hope that downgrades and stability will reshape their country as a hub for investment, tourism and economic recovery. Meanwhile, Israel is adopting a strategy of direct confrontation with Iran on multiple fronts.

“Gulf people say that truly focusing on their own economic recovery doesn’t like the image of a smolder, smoking city because they try to attract investment and create a shared stable image,” Benaim said.

Even if not derailed, this mismatch may slow down normalization. “Israel may have underestimated the power of Gulf solidarity, and the obstacles to off-road when you see Israel hitting inside the GCC, [Gulf Cooperation Council] “I think that means their relationship will collapse or collapse, but these things have caused a long shadow. ”

Sharawi countered that the Gulf’s anger may have less attitude toward Israel itself than the strike precedent on the soil of the GCC. “Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE have had hostile ties with Qatar like in the past, it is an Israeli action against the GCC partners,” he said. “But the Gulf leaders are also very critical of Qatar’s presidency.

Qatar’s balance behavior

For Qatar, the strike opened up both vulnerability and opportunity. On the one hand, it cannot make itself passive in the face of foreign attacks on foreign soil. Analysts hope Doha will go through diplomatic channels, key media coverage and limited response to Israel’s economic measures.

But Qatar also has a long history of turning crisis into correlation. “Kataris wants to be a mediator again because they get a lot of points internationally, especially from the United States,” Guzanski said. “It’s in their DNA.”

This means that public anger in Qatar may resume shuttle diplomacy, positioning itself once again as essential for ceasefire negotiations.

Sharawi believes that the victim narrative in Qatar also covers up his accomplice. “The leadership of terrorist groups failed to introduce a sustainable ceasefire, and Qatar has empowered Hamas through hosting Hamas,” he said. “Even if the Gulf leaders don’t speak out, they are very anti-Hamas. This situation is important for how to view the prospect of normalization after this strike.”

Earlier this week, Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade told Katari spokesperson It sounds more like the state “takes over Hamas” than playing the mediator.

“My fellow, Qatar residents live in schools and nurseries next door, when one party decides to attack our sovereignty in a residential area. Trust me, it’s hard to keep a very calm voice.”

Israeli Defense Minister Katz promised to attack “the ubiquitous enemy” after the strike. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)

Different reactions from Iran

The Doha strike also highlights the asymmetry in the Gulf reaction. Gulf unity with Katar was muted when Iran attacked Al Udeid’s air base earlier this year. This time, the condemnation counts down for one minute.

“You didn’t see Gulf leaders embracing the Qataris after the Iran strike,” Guzanski pointed out. “But with Israel, the reaction is getting bigger and stronger, and there are strong rhetoric throughout the Arab world.”

Sarahwi agrees, but constitutes in a different way: “They are too critical of Israel compared to Iran. The Jordanian king even said that the security of Qatar is Jordan’s security – a very powerful statement. The Arabs did not hesitate to try to lock anything that criticizes Israel yesterday, even compared to Iran.”

This contrast emphasizes a regional reality: Gulf leaders are afraid of escalating with Tehran, but there is little risk of criticizing Israel. For Qatar, the difference provides an opportunity for the rally to sympathize with and focus on its sovereignty – even as neighbors quietly question its choice to host Hamas.

The shadow of normalization

Israel’s military influence is undeniable. But by hitting inside Doha, it may have paid a hidden diplomatic price – a view on Israel becoming an unstable actor as the Gulf nation seeks calm.

The fact that Hamas leaders survived the killing of security officials in Katari could complicate the consequences, and Doha’s anger increased while leaving Israel’s core objectives incomplete.

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Israeli Defense Minister Katz promised to attack “with enemies everywhere.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz Post on x Ask questions such as whether Türkiye’s sovereign states like the NATO allies of the senior Hamas leader may be next.