Trump Denies Reports Netanyahu Told Him Of Qatar Attack In Advance
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he was not informed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in advance about Israel's attack in Qatar last week.
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Trump Rejects Claims of Prior Knowledge About Israel's Qatar Strike
Washington:
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump firmly denied receiving advance notification from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israel's military strike in Qatar last week.
Trump's denial came in response to an Axios report claiming that Netanyahu had briefed the U.S. president shortly before the attack was launched.
The Trump administration has maintained that it was only informed after missiles were already airborne, eliminating any possibility for Trump to object to the operation. However, Axios cited Israeli officials suggesting the White House had earlier knowledge, even though the timeframe to intervene would have been extremely limited.
Last Tuesday, Israel conducted an airstrike in Qatar targeting Hamas political leadership, representing a significant escalation of its military operations in the Middle East. The attack faced widespread condemnation throughout the Middle East and internationally, with critics warning it could further inflame regional tensions.
Trump has consistently stated he had no involvement in Israel's decision to conduct the Qatar strike.
When specifically asked if Netanyahu directly informed him about the planned strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar, Trump responded: "No, no, they didn't."
Following the Axios report, Netanyahu's office reaffirmed that the attack was a "wholly independent" Israeli operation.
The United States maintains alliances with both Israel and Qatar. Doha has been serving as a mediator in efforts to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza, ongoing since October 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, displaced Gaza's entire population, and triggered a severe hunger crisis. Numerous human rights experts and scholars characterize these actions as genocide.
Israel rejects genocide accusations, describing its military operations as self-defense following an October 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 hostages. During its Gaza campaign, Israel has also conducted military strikes in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen.