Netanyahu warns Israel could strike Hamas in Qatar once more after Trump declares it “won’t occur”

Because the folks killed in Israel’s shock strike on a Hamas assembly within the Qatari capital had been buried at Doha’s Grand Mosque on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to launch new assaults on the nation — a detailed U.S. ally — if it refused to eject the U.S.- and Israeli-designated terrorist group’s political representatives.

Qatar’s authorities has condemned Israel’s Tuesday strikes, saying the “legal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all worldwide legal guidelines and norms, and poses a severe risk to the safety and security of the State of Qatar and its folks.”

The U.S. has relied on Qatar to behave as a go-between with Hamas, with which it has lengthy had ties. Working by Hamas’ political workplace in Doha, each the Trump administration and the Biden administration earlier than which have pushed exhausting, together with Egypt, to dealer a ceasefire within the practically two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Palestinian group’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault. Senior Israeli officers have additionally traveled to Qatar many instances to participate in these negotiations for the reason that conflict started.

Qatar additionally hosts the biggest U.S. army base within the Center East, the Al-Udeid Air Base, the place hundreds of American army personnel are stationed.

President Trump, in a publish on his Reality Social community on Tuesday, mentioned the White Home had been “notified by the US Navy that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very sadly, was situated in a bit of Doha.” 

American officers informed CBS Information that the U.S. was notified of the assault by Israel because it was about to occur, and that the U.S. didn’t coordinate with Israel on planning the strikes.

“This was a choice made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a choice made by me,” Mr. Trump mentioned in his social media publish. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and shut Ally of the US, that’s working very exhausting and bravely taking dangers with us to dealer Peace, doesn’t advance Israel or America’s objectives.”

He referred to as “eliminating” Hamas “a worthy purpose,” however added that he had spoken with each Netanyahu and leaders in Qatar, and had assured the prime minister in Doha, “that such a factor won’t occur once more on their soil.”

For his half, Netanyahu has continued to defend the assault and recommended Israeli might launch one other one.   

“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you both expel them otherwise you deliver them to justice,” Netanyahu mentioned Wednesday. “As a result of if you happen to do not, we’ll.”

Netanyahu drew a parallel between Israel’s assault in Doha and the U.S. invasion of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2002 terrorist assaults on the US.

“We went after the terrorist masterminds who dedicated the October seventh bloodbath. And we did so in Qatar, which provides secure haven, it harbors terrorists, it funds Hamas,” Netanyahu mentioned.

President Trump mentioned in his social media publish that, of their telephone calls, Netanyahu “informed me that he desires to make Peace,” however some regional officers have mentioned the assault in Doha doomed any possibilities for a brokered finish to the conflict in Gaza.

Qatar’s prime minister mentioned Netanyahu had “killed any hope” of returning the remaining 48 Israeli hostages held by Hamas, 20 of whom are believed to be alive in Gaza.

Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani mentioned, earlier than showing Thursday on the United Nations, that Israel’s assault had infected anti-Israeli sentiments amongst many Arab nations within the Center East, telling CNN: “I feel that what Netanyahu has finished yesterday (Tuesday), he simply killed any hope for these hostages.”

Al Thani spoke as hundreds of Palestinians continued to flee Gaza Metropolis forward of Israel’s ongoing offensive there. The numbers leaving town have grown in current days, although many haven’t heeded Israel’s orders to go away as a result of they are saying they not have the energy or cash to relocate.

The Israeli army’s plans for the following phases of its operation in what it calls Hamas’ final remaining stronghold are aimed toward taking on the biggest Palestinian metropolis, which is already devastated from earlier raids and is now experiencing famine, in keeping with the world’s main knowledgeable physique on meals crises.

The plans have drawn widespread condemnation and added to Israel’s international isolation, which intensified additional this week following the strike on Qatar.

Al Thani was anticipated to attend a U.N. Safety Council assembly later Thursday, a part of a diplomatic push by Qatar after the strike. The Overseas Ministry in Doha additionally mentioned Thursday that it was convening an emergency Arab-Islamic leaders summit subsequent week in Qatar to debate the assault.

Hamas mentioned Tuesday that its prime leaders survived the strike however that 5 lower-level members had been killed, together with the son of Khalil al-Hayya — Hamas’ chief for Gaza and its prime negotiator — in addition to three bodyguards and the pinnacle of al-Hayya’s workplace.

Hamas, which has typically solely confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, supplied no rapid proof that al-Hayya and different senior figures had survived. Israel has not confirmed the identities of any members of the group killed by its strikes.

Qatar has hosted Hamas’ political management for years in Doha, partly over a request by the U.S. to encourage negotiations between the militant group and Israel. Israel had additionally authorized this association and earlier than October 7, 2023, it had additionally given its blessing for Qatar to channel thousands and thousands of {dollars} of money assist to Hamas every month.