Trump Meets Qatari Prime Minister After Israeli Strike in Doha Sparks Outrage
Israeli Strike in Qatar Raises Global Concerns
NEW YORK – U.S. President Donald Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York on Friday, just days after Israel carried out a strike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders.
The attack, launched on Tuesday, aimed to assassinate senior Hamas officials but instead triggered widespread condemnation across the Middle East and beyond. Analysts warned the move could derail U.S.-led ceasefire talks in Gaza and further inflame regional tensions.
Trump Expresses Frustration Over Israel’s Actions
According to officials, Trump voiced his displeasure in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the strike as a unilateral action that undermined both U.S. and Israeli interests. He reportedly reassured Qatar that such incidents would not be repeated.
During the New York dinner, Trump and al-Thani were joined by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, Hamah Al-Muftah, confirmed the meeting in a post on X, saying: “Great dinner with POTUS. Just ended.” The White House also confirmed the dinner but did not share details.
High-Level Meetings at the White House
Earlier on Friday, al-Thani met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House. Sources say the discussions focused on Qatar’s future as a regional mediator, defense cooperation, and the fallout from Israel’s strike in Doha.
Qatar Reaffirms Role as Regional Mediator
Qatar has long served as a central mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, facilitating talks on ceasefires, hostage releases, and post-war reconstruction plans for Gaza. Despite condemning Israel’s attack, al-Thani vowed that Qatar would continue its mediation role and not be deterred from pursuing peace efforts.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens
Since October 2023, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, while aid agencies warn of a starvation-level humanitarian crisis.
Rights experts and international scholars have described Israel’s campaign as genocide, but Israel rejects that claim, saying its operations were launched after a Hamas-led assault that killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 hostages taken.
Conflict Spreads Beyond Gaza
Beyond Gaza, Israel has expanded its strikes to Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen, raising fears of a wider regional war. Washington continues to count Qatar as a key Gulf ally and mediator in efforts to prevent the conflict from spiraling further out of control.