Did Trump know about Israeli attacks on Qatar, a key ally?

The Israeli airstrike on a residential compound in Doha on Tuesday is likely to have profound diplomatic  consequences, particularly for President Donald Trump’s Middle East policy. The attack, which targeted Hamas leadership present at the Qatari capital, not only violated the sovereignty of Qatar, a key American ally and mediator, but also exposed divisions among partners and stalled already fragile peace negotiations.

In the days leading up to the strike, Trump had stepped up his efforts to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas. On September 7, he issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas, urging it to accept his proposed deal for the release of the remaining hostages. He insisted that Israel had already agreed to his terms and told Hamas there would be no further offers. His plan, passed through mediators, required Hamas to free all 48 to 50 hostages on the first day of a ceasefire in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. It also included a freeze on the Israeli offensive in Gaza City, with talks towards a broader settlement to be overseen personally by Trump. Hostilities would not resume while negotiations were underway.

Hamas acknowledged receiving what it called American “ideas” and indicated it was ready to negotiate if Israel agreed to a clear end to the war, the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza, and the formation of an independent Palestinian committee to run the territory. Netanyahu’s office said it was considering the proposal but doubted Hamas would accept it.

Trump’s position had until recently been harder. He had insisted that the remaining hostages would be freed only once Hamas was “confronted and destroyed” and had questioned whether as many as 20 of them were still alive. Negotiations had already faltered earlier in the summer when US and Israeli envoys pulled out of Qatar, accusing Hamas of lacking seriousness. Netanyahu, who had once accepted a 60-day truce, later demanded a comprehensive agreement, creating further uncertainty. Critics argued that Trump’s shifting approach to the Gaza conflict effectively gave Netanyahu freedom to pursue the war as he wished.

The strike on Doha changed the calculus overnight. Trump said he had not been informed directly by Netanyahu but was notified by the US military, something he described as deeply unsatisfactory. He maintained that Washington had tried to warn Qatar of the impending attack but that the message arrived too late. He told reporters that Israel’s decision to bomb the territory of a sovereign nation and close American ally was unacceptable and would not serve either Israeli or US interests. Trump promised Qatar’s emir and prime minister that such an incident would not be repeated and instructed officials to conclude a new defence cooperation agreement with Doha.

Yet the president also said that eliminating Hamas remained a legitimate objective, which highlighted the inconsistency of his message. The White House press secretary avoided giving a direct answer when asked whether Trump was angry with Netanyahu or whether there would be consequences for Israel, and instead suggested that the strike might create an opportunity for peace. Senator Chris Coons remarked that it was striking that Israel had not informed its closest ally before acting, suggesting a serious erosion of trust, particularly given the large American military presence in Qatar. Analysts speculated that Washington might have had advance knowledge but chose not to act, or that Israel preferred to apologise afterwards rather than seek permission. Journalists noted that if the US had the chance to stop the strike, it had chosen not to.

The consequences for Qatar and the region were immediate. Doha called the attack a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and international law. The European Union declared it a violation of Qatar’s territorial integrity and pledged full solidarity. Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer also condemned the attack, saying it breached international norms and risked wider escalation.

The strike also undermined Qatar’s pivotal role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. Since 2012 it has hosted a Hamas political office, at the urging of successive American administrations, to facilitate back-channel diplomacy. The attack brought the already faltering peace talks to a halt. Commentators pointed out that this was bad news for both the Israeli hostages, whose lives were now in greater danger, and the population of Gaza, whose daily suffering continued. Observers concluded that Israel appeared to have abandoned negotiations and was determined to pursue Hamas wherever it operated. Qatar’s prime minister said his country would not be deterred from mediation, but the blow to Doha’s credibility was undeniable.

The strike also inflamed regional tensions. The European Union warned of the danger of further escalation. President Erdoğan of Turkey condemned what he called a heinous act designed to deepen conflict and instability, and pledged Ankara’s support for Qatar. Starmer also stated that the action risked a dangerous widening of the war.

The episode struck at the heart of US interests. Qatar not only serves as a mediator but also hosts the vast al-Udeid air base outside Doha, one of the most important American military installations in the region. Commentators observed that members of Qatar’s ruling family must now be questioning the wisdom of hosting both the leadership of a proscribed movement and a large US base. The attack on its soil was seen as a reckless precedent and a costly gamble by Israel. Experts warned that if violence spreads, it is likely to target US facilities, which are more accessible than Israeli ones. Trump’s assurance that such a strike would never recur and his instruction to cement defence ties with Qatar revealed Washington’s concern about shoring up this vital relationship.

In the wider picture, the strike in Doha has seriously damaged prospects for a negotiated end to the Gaza war. Trump’s response combined criticism of Israel for acting unilaterally on allied territory with support for its goal of destroying Hamas. The contradiction reflected both the complexity of the situation and the president’s desire to reassure Qatar while preserving Israel’s confidence. 

Middle East