(MENAFN) United States President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced optimism that Israel’s recent strike on Hamas leaders based in Qatar would not hinder ongoing discussions between Israel and the Palestinian group regarding a potential hostage agreement.

When questioned during a media briefing en route to New York City about the possible impact of the assault in Doha on ceasefire and detainee exchange efforts in Gaza, Trump responded, “hopefully it won't affect it at all. We want the (Israeli) hostages out, and we want them out soon. Hopefully it won't affect them.”

According to an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal, top U.S. government officials revealed that Trump had informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that attacking Hamas's political leadership was unwise.

The report noted Trump “was angry to learn about the attack as it was occurring from the US military—rather than from Israel—and that it struck the territory of another US ally that was mediating negotiations on ending the Gaza war.”

Netanyahu reportedly replied that a short-lived opportunity presented itself to carry out the operation, and he chose to act on it.

Qatar, together with the United States and Egypt, has been playing a pivotal role in brokering an end to the Gaza conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 64,600 Palestinians since October 2023.

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