'Decision made by Netanyahu': Trump distances himself from Qatar attack; claims strike ordered by Israel

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar, was ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not by him.

He added that he immediately directed special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the attack, though it was “too late” to prevent it.


“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar. This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He criticised the attack, calling it a unilateral strike in a “Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States” that “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.” However, he added that “eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

Speaking to reporters as he made a rare outing onto Washington's streets on Tuesday, Trump said, "I'm just, 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."

Diplomatic conversations after the strike

The US president said he spoke with Netanyahu after the attack, who “wants to make Peace,” and added that the incident could serve as an “opportunity for PEACE.”

He also spoke with the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, thanking them “for their support and friendship to our Country” and assuring that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”

Qatar denies prior knowledge

Trump’s clarification comes soon after Qatar’s advisor to the prime minister and official spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs, Al Ansari rejected claims that Doha had prior knowledge of the attack.

In a post on X Wednesday, he wrote,“The statements being circulated about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are baseless. The call from a US official came during the sound of explosions caused by the Israeli attack in Doha.”

Explosions shake Doha

Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani warned that his country reserves the right to respond after the strike killed six people, including a Qatari security officer. “Qatar... reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack,” he said at a press conference.

Also read: 'Blatant attack': Qatar PM warns of right to respond after Israeli strike on Doha; demands regional response
Doha was shaken by a series of explosions on Tuesday, with witnesses reporting smoke rising over the Katara district. Qatari authorities condemned the strikes as a “cowardly assault” on residential buildings housing Hamas leaders and warned that the attacks could lead to a dangerous escalation.