President Trump Criticises Israel's Airstrike On Qatar Amid Hamas Tensions, 'Not Really Thrilled'

2025-09-09 08:09:36

(MENAFN- Live Mint) President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was "not thrilled" about Israel's airstrike on Qatar in which Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Trump said the unilateral action directed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu“did not advance Israel or America's goals." He offered notably muted pushback, however, even suggesting“this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.”

“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” Trump said on social media hours after the strikes.

Israel's unprecedented strike on Qatar's capital on Tuesday delivered a major blow to US-supported efforts to normalize ties with Gulf Arab nations and possibly crippled talks for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The attack - targeting leaders of Palestinian militant group Hamas - on a peacetime ally of the US is a dramatic escalation of Israel's belligerent posture over the past year, which has seen it conduct airstrikes in Syria, Lebanon and Iran.

Qatar's wealthy Gulf neighbors were unnerved by the strike on Doha, home to the largest American military base in the Middle East as well as one of the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds. Condemnation rolled in from across the region. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized ties with Israel five years ago under the Abraham Accords brokered by President Donald Trump, warned Israel its actions would have“extremely dangerous repercussions” for regional security. Saudi Arabia, which the US leader is pushing to join the accords, called it a“criminal act,” while Qatar labeled it“a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.”

“Normalization is dead,” said Dina Esfandiary, Middle East Geoeconomics Lead for Bloomberg Economics.“There is no prospect for more normalization with the Gulf Arabs and Saudi Arabia in particular once one of theirs has been attacked.”

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