Trump Urges Caution in Israel's Actions Toward Qatar Amid Hamas Strike
President Trump advises Israel to exercise caution in dealings with Qatar following a strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, emphasizing Qatar's role as a U.S. ally.
Following an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, U.S. President Donald Trump advised Israel to exercise caution in its actions toward Qatar, emphasizing the nation's status as a "great ally" to the United States. Speaking at Morristown Airport in New Jersey, Trump stated, "They have to be very, very careful. They have to do something about Hamas, but Qatar has been a great ally to the United States."
The strike has led to a flurry of diplomatic activity. Trump dined with Qatar's Prime Minister on Friday, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An emergency summit of Arab and Islamic states is scheduled in Doha to address the incident, with expectations of a statement condemning Israel's actions.
Reports have emerged of internal divisions within Israel regarding the strike. Channel 12 reported that Mossad Director David Barnea opposed the operation, believing it could hinder progress in U.S.-sponsored ceasefire talks with Hamas. Barnea reportedly communicated his concerns in an agency-wide letter, emphasizing the potential for the meeting to advance negotiations. The Mossad declined to comment on the report.
The strike has also prompted international reactions. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani accused Israel of "state terrorism" but affirmed Qatar's commitment to mediating between Israel and Hamas to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A draft resolution from the upcoming summit suggests that Arab states with normalized relations with Israel could reconsider those ties, though it does not explicitly recommend such actions.
In his remarks, Trump also suggested that Qatar should improve its public relations efforts, noting the country's significant investments in global events and institutions. He recounted advising Qatar's leader, "You need better public relations, because you don't really get the public relations. I mean, people talk of it so badly and they shouldn't be. Qatar has been a very great ally."
Source
The Times of IsraelFact-checking
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