Following last week’s Israeli strikes on Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, U.S. President Donald Trump has called Qatar a “great ally of the United States” and warned Israel to be “very careful” in its relations with Doha. Speaking to reporters at Morristown Airport in New Jersey, Trump emphasized that while Israel had to “do something about Hamas,” it should not jeopardize its ties with Qatar.
“My message is that they have to be very, very careful. They have to do something about Hamas, but Qatar has been a great ally to the United States,” Trump said. He described Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as a “wonderful person” and confirmed he had hosted Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for dinner in New York just days after the strike.
Qatar Demands Global Accountability
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani condemned the attack, calling it a “blatant violation of sovereignty and international law.” At a preparatory meeting for an emergency Arab-Islamic summit, he stated, “The time has come for the international community to stop using double standards and to punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed.” He also warned that efforts to displace Palestinians through “a war of extermination” would ultimately fail.
Growing Regional Outrage
The September 9 strikes on Doha targeted the residences of Hamas officials, killing several people—including civilians—and injuring others. The attacks have triggered widespread condemnation across the Arab and Islamic world. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led Riyadh’s delegation to the Doha summit, where the Kingdom denounced the assault as an “aggressive act” and reaffirmed its solidarity with Qatar.
Arab-Islamic Summit Response
The joint Arab-Islamic summit, hosted under Qatar’s leadership, is expected to finalize a draft statement addressing Israel’s actions. Foreign ministers from Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states are in attendance, signaling a united front against the strike.
Netanyahu Defends Actions with 9/11 Comparison
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike in Doha by drawing a parallel to America’s response to the September 11 attacks. In a video message, Netanyahu said, “What did America do in the wake of September 11th? It promised to hunt down the terrorists who committed this heinous crime, wherever they may be.” He argued that governments should not provide safe havens for militants, framing Israel’s actions as consistent with international counterterrorism principles.
