A recent surprise attack by Israel on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, has shaken up the relationship between the United States and a key Middle East ally. The strike, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, angered President Donald Trump and drew fierce condemnation from Doha and Western allies. While the attack killed a Qatari security agent and five others, it failed to eliminate the targeted Hamas leaders.
President Trump expressed that he was “very unhappy about every aspect” of the Israeli operation. U.S. officials confirmed that the Netanyahu administration did not formally warn Washington of the impending bombing campaign, highlighting a cold calculation in their relationship. This lack of communication is reminiscent of a September 2024 Israeli attack on Hezbollah, where thousands were wounded by booby-trapped pagers without then-President Joe Biden being informed.
