Trump Told Netanyahu Qatar Strike Was “Not Wise” in Heated Phone Call

Photo by Nahi Khabar 24/7 – via Personal Collection

U.S. President Donald Trump held a tense phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Israel’s unprecedented airstrike on Hamas operatives inside Qatar, according to senior officials and media reports.

The call, described as “heated,” came after Israeli warplanes targeted a building in Doha earlier this week, killing several Hamas figures involved in ongoing ceasefire talks. The move drew sharp criticism from Qatar and triggered widespread international condemnation.

According to U.S. officials cited by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by Reuters, Trump told Netanyahu directly that launching such an attack on Qatari soil was “not wise.” He expressed concern that the strike had undermined Qatar’s role as a key mediator in Middle East peace negotiations and risked further destabilizing the Gulf region.

Netanyahu, however, defended his decision, insisting that Israel had a narrow window of opportunity to neutralize Hamas leaders who were plotting against the state. “This was necessary to protect Israeli security,” Netanyahu reportedly told Trump during the call.

Trump later addressed the controversy publicly, stressing that the decision was taken solely by Israel. “This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” he said, distancing Washington from responsibility for the operation. The White House added that Trump had instructed his envoy to warn Qatar shortly before the strike, though the notification came only minutes ahead of the attack.

The conversation highlighted the strain between Washington and Tel Aviv over Israel’s military action. Qatar has vowed to pursue legal measures against Israel, calling the strike “state terrorism,” while Russia, the U.K., and other nations condemned the violation of Qatari sovereignty.

Despite the criticism, Netanyahu has vowed further operations if necessary, declaring that Israel’s enemies “will not be safe anywhere.” The exchange with Trump underscores the growing diplomatic rift as the fallout from the strike continues to unfold.