Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened further action against Qatar if the Gulf state continues to provide safe haven for Hamas leaders, even as US President Donald Trump assured Doha that there would be no repeat of Israeli strikes on its territory.
Speaking after Israel’s air force targeted a Hamas leadership meeting in Doha, Netanyahu said: “I say to Qatar and all the countries that harbor terrorists, either expel them or bring them to justice, because if you do not, we will do it.”
He compared Israel’s stance to America’s pursuit of al-Qaeda leaders after the September 11 attacks. “We are no different from America, which captured terrorists after September 11,” Netanyahu declared, adding that international condemnation of the Israeli operation was “shameful”.
The Israeli strikes on Doha killed six people, including relatives and aides of senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, but the Hamas leadership survived. Qatar has denounced the attack as a “criminal act” and suspended its role in ceasefire mediation.
In contrast, President Trump sought to reassure Qatar, saying during a call with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that such an attack would not happen again. The White House has stressed that the US values Qatar as a “close ally and friend” and will move to strengthen defence cooperation following the incident.