Trump pans Israel for striking in Doha but says ‘eliminating Hamas’ is a ‘worthy goal’

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered somewhat contradictory statements regarding Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar.

On the one hand, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Israeli strike “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”

“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal,” Trump added.

“I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE.” he claimed.

Trump said he was tipped off by the US military about the Israeli strike in Doha and that he immediately directed US special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatar of what was coming — “which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack.”

“This [strike] was a decision made by Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu. It was not a decision made by me,” the US president stressed.

Trump made a point of hailing Qatar, saying the Gulf mediating country is “working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace.”

“I view Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the US and feel very badly about the location of the attack,” he said.

Trump reiterated his desire to see the release of all hostages and an end to the war “NOW!”

He noted that he spoke with Netanyahu after the Israeli strike and Netanyahu relayed that “he wants to make peace.”

Trump added that he also spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and thanked them for their “support and friendship to our country.”

“I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil,” Trump said, adding that he has also directed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize the defense cooperation agreement with Qatar.

Trump’s post was nearly identical to a statement issued by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press conference several hours earlier.

Later Tuesday, Trump told reporters, “I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”

While repeating that Israel didn’t give advance notice of the strike, Trump also said he wasn’t caught off guard when asked by a reporter if he was surprised. “I’m never surprised by anything, especially when it comes to the Middle East,” he said.

Trump added that he would be “giving a full statement tomorrow.” But, he repeated, “I am very unhappy about every aspect. We’ve got to get the hostages back, but I’m very unhappy about the way that went down.”

Europe fumes over ‘unacceptable’ strikes

The attack was met with a steady flow of condemnations throughout the afternoon and evening, both from across the region and from Israel’s allies in Europe.

The strikes “violate Qatar’s sovereignty and risk further escalation across the region,” wrote British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on X, urging “an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also took to X, declaring the strikes to be “unacceptable, whatever the reason.”

“Under no circumstances should the war spread throughout the region,” he added.

Spain, which has seen its relationship with Israel deteriorate in recent days, also waded into the fray.

In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Madrid declared that the attacks violated “Qatari territorial sovereignty” in a “flagrant breach of international law,” and called for “an immediate end to violence and a return to diplomatic negotiations.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hit back at Spain, retorting on X that, after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced nine punitive measures against Israel for its wartime conduct in Gaza, “Yesterday – Hamas praised Spain’s decisions against Israel. Today – Spain condemned Israel’s strike against Hamas terrorist leaders.”

“This is how true partnership looks like,” Sa’ar quipped.

Germany, Israel’s closest ally bar the US, was disapproving, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calling the attack “unacceptable.”

“Israel’s attack on Doha not only violates Qatar’s territorial sovereignty, but also jeopardizes all of our efforts to secure the release of the hostages,” he said in a statement.

“Qatar is playing a crucial role in the efforts to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of the hostages,” Wadephul said. “I urgently call for everything to be done now to finally bring about a ceasefire and allow the hostages to return to their families.”

Like the US, he acknowledged that “the current escalation” was a result of Hamas’s “abhorrent terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.”

The United Nations and the European Union also issued similarly strongly worded statements opposing Israel’s actions.

The strikes, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, were “a flagrant violation of sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Qatar.”

“All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it,” Guterres told reporters.

“Today’s airstrike by Israel against Hamas leaders in Doha breaches international law and Qatar’s territorial integrity, and risks a further escalation of violence in the region,” the EU said.

The airstrike targeted all of Hamas’s senior leadership who were gathered in Doha to discuss a US ceasefire and hostage deal proposal, including the terror group’s leader Khalil al-Hayya.

Israel was said to be “optimistic” over the results of the strike. Hamas denied that it was successful, however, saying that none of the five people killed were senior officials in the group.

Agencies and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.