Qatar has strongly denied claims by the White House that it was warned before Israel’s strike on Hamas negotiators in Doha.
The attack hit a residential area in Qatar’s capital, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, local authorities confirmed. The White House said President Trump’s administration had informed Qatar beforehand.
US spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Israel targeted Hamas members in Doha but emphasized that unilateral action did not advance US or Israeli objectives. She added that Trump instructed his envoy to notify Qatar.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected this claim, stating the call from Washington came only after the explosions had started. Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the notification arrived “during the sound of the explosions.” Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the strike “state terrorism” and a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.
Trump later expressed regret, saying he felt “very badly about the location of the attack” and assured Qatar that such an incident would not happen again. He clarified that the decision was made solely by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamas confirmed five members were killed but said its main negotiating team survived. The group accused Israel of deliberately undermining peace efforts and held the US jointly responsible for the attack.
Qatar has previously played a central role in mediating ceasefires, including a pause in fighting in November 2023 and a six-week ceasefire in January 2025. Both the Biden and Trump administrations had praised Doha’s efforts in facilitating peace talks.
Following the strike, Trump urged Hamas to accept US terms, warning of consequences if it refused. The incident highlights the sensitive role Qatar continues to play in regional diplomacy and conflict resolution.
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