Donald Trump has distanced the US from Israel’s “unfortunate” strike in Qatar, which drew international condemnation and killed five members of Hamas.
The Israeli Defence Forces said it carried out Tuesday’s strike in Doha “targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organisation”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility” for the attack – which the US president echoed on Truth Social.
As it happened: NATO member says it will stand by Qatar
Mr Trump said the US military notified his administration about the Israeli attack on the Qatari capital, and added: “It was not a decision made by me.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”
Mr Trump then said however that eliminating Hamas “is a worthy goal,” and that he believes “this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE”.
Speaking to reporters a little later, he said he was “not thrilled” about the strike and would make a “full statement” on Wednesday.
Qatar’s UN ambassador says strike ‘cowardly’
Mr Netanyahu said the operation was a “surgical, precision strike,” and claimed it was “completely justified” after six people were killed in Jerusalem – which Hamas took responsibility for.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s interior ministry said that a member of its security forces were killed in Israel’s strike, and its UN ambassador called the attack a “criminal assault” and “cowardly” act.
Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani told the United Nations Security Council that Qatar “not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security,” adding the strike “constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms”.
In a phone call with Mr Trump, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani also said Qatar will take all necessary measures to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty.
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Starmer condemns strike ahead of Herzog visit
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also condemned Israel’s strike, saying it violates Qatar’s sovereignty and risks further escalation in the region.
His comments came ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Britain, where he will meet with the prime minister this afternoon.
Sir Keir said in a statement he intends to raise the issue of the “intolerable situation” in Gaza with Mr Herzog, adding: “We’ve been clear Israel must take action to end [the] horrific scenes.”
In a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, Sir Keir also “gave his condolences for the death of a Qatari security officer killed in the attack”, according to a Downing Street readout.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign campaigners protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to the UK outside Downing Street. Pic: PA
Protests against Mr Herzog’s visit are widely expected throughout his visit. Demonstrators gathered outside Downing Street yesterday to protest his arrival, while Green Party leader Zack Polanski told Sky News that the official should be arrested.
Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, said: “Welcoming a potential war criminal to the UK is another demonstration of how this Labour government is implicated in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“It also serves as a brutal insult to those mourning the thousands of innocent lives lost and to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians facing ongoing violence and hunger.”
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Israel has strongly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, but is being challenged on the issue in a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The world’s leading association of genocide scholars, as well as several Israeli human rights organisations, have already accused the country of genocide.
