President Donald Trump “feels very badly” in regards to the location of Israel’s strike concentrating on senior Hamas management in Qatar, the White Home stated on Tuesday.
Whereas not condemning the Israeli motion, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared an announcement she stated mirrored Trump’s views — one utilizing robust language that confirmed some uncommon daylight between the president and Israel, describing the strike as an “unlucky incident” that doesn’t profit the U.S. or Israel.
Pressed repeatedly on whether or not Israel notified the U.S. forward of the strike, Leavitt notably solely stated the White Home and Trump had been knowledgeable by the U.S. army.
“This morning, the Trump administration was notified by the US army that as Israel was attacking Hamas, which very sadly was situated in a bit of Doha, the capital of Qatar, unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and shut ally of the US that’s working very onerous and bravely taking dangers with us to dealer peace doesn’t advance Israel or America’s targets,” Leavitt stated from the rostrum at her press briefing.
“Nevertheless, eliminating Hamas, who’ve profited off the distress of these residing in Gaza, is a worthy objective,” Leavitt added.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks throughout a press briefing within the Brady Briefing Room of the White Home in Washington, September 9, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
President Trump directed Steve Witkoff, his particular envoy to the Center East, to tell the Qataris of the approaching assault and Witkoff did, in line with Leavitt.
“The president views Qatar as a robust ally and good friend of the US and feels very badly in regards to the location of this assault,” Leavitt continued. “President Trump desires all the hostages in Gaza and the our bodies of the lifeless launched on this conflict to finish now. “
“President Trump additionally spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the assault, the prime minister instructed President Trump that he desires to make peace and rapidly, President Trump believes this unlucky incident might function a chance for peace,” she added. “The President additionally spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar and thanked them for his or her assist and friendship to our nation. He assured them that such a factor is not going to occur once more on their soil.”
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs, nonetheless, stated they weren’t warned in regards to the strike prematurely.
“The statements being circulated about Qatar being knowledgeable of the assault prematurely are baseless. The communication acquired from one of many American officers got here throughout the sound of explosions ensuing from the Israeli assault in Doha,” the spokesperson stated.
Smoke rises after a number of blasts had been heard in Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Netanyahu and Protection Minister Israel Katz stated airstrikes concentrating on Hamas management in Doha had been “utterly justified” in mild of the Oct. 7, 2023, assault by Hamas on Israel.
Hamas stated 5 of its members had been killed within the strike in Doha however that none had been senior officers.
Leavitt stated the White Home discovered of the assault “simply earlier than” it passed off, however did not give any indication {that a} heads-up got here from Israel, as has been given up to now.
ABC Information Chief White Home Correspondent Mary Bruce pressed Leavitt if Israel knowledgeable the U.S. in any respect earlier than the strike.
“What I can inform you is the US army knowledgeable the Trump administration,” Leavitt responded.
When ABC’s Bruce requested if the president spoke with Netanyahu forward of the strike and urged him to not undergo with it, Leavitt repeated that they spoke after the strike.
