Trump is angered by the strike on Doha and will be disappointed in Netanyahu, reports WSJ

Conversation Between Trump and Netanyahu

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump had a contentious conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an airstrike on Doha. Senior U.S. administration officials expressed deep disappointment that the strike on Hamas members in Qatar caught them by surprise.

Trump described the attack on Hamas political leaders as a “foolish” decision. He was outraged that he learned about the attack from American military personnel rather than from the Israelis. The strike occurred on the territory of a U.S. ally, which was acting as a mediator in negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza. In response, Netanyahu explained that the actions were prompted by a brief window for strikes.

Emotions and Outcomes of the Attack

Later, Trump contacted Netanyahu again to inquire about the success of the operation. The Prime Minister replied that he did not yet know the results. After some time, militants reported that the strikes did not significantly impact Israel’s targets, although six individuals associated with Hamas were indeed eliminated.

According to administration data, Trump, who had previously shown support for Israel, is increasingly disappointed in Netanyahu. These aggressive steps, taken without U.S. involvement, create disagreements that contradict Trump’s goals in the Middle East.

Peace Agenda and Consequences

Trump emphasizes the need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, despite his support for Netanyahu’s campaign against Hamas. At the same time, there is concern about the negative reaction from the Qataris, who played a mediating role between Hamas and Israel following the Israeli strike.

According to Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the situation undermines Trump’s peace initiatives. She also added that the president’s unstable policy creates space for other players to pursue their goals, sometimes without considering U.S. interests.

Criticism of Trump’s Approach

One American official pointed out that Trump would like the Israeli side to reduce the level of bombings in Gaza, believing that it negatively affects Israel’s reputation in the global community. Trump and his representative Steve Witkoff have reported in recent months that they were manipulated by Netanyahu and found themselves in difficult situations without prior notice.

Attack on Doha

On September 9, more than ten Israeli fighter jets carried out an airstrike on the capital of Qatar, Doha, targeting a site linked by the Israeli side to Hamas leadership. Militants confirmed that six people were killed in the strike, including the son of one of the high-ranking leaders in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, and one of his aides. The group also reported that the attack was aimed at disrupting negotiations on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.