By AAMER MADHANI and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was attempting to stroll a fragile line following Israel’s assault on Hamas officers in Qatar, distancing himself from the strike Tuesday however stopping wanting condemning Israel for finishing up an audacious strike on the soil of one other main U.S. ally.
Trump mentioned the unilateral motion directed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “didn’t advance Israel or America’s objectives.” He supplied notably muted pushback, nonetheless, even suggesting “this unlucky incident may function a chance for peace.”
“This was a choice made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a choice made by me,” Trump mentioned on social media hours after the strikes.
Trump is in search of to assuage considerations of a Gulf ally that has performed a key function in mediating between the U.S. and Iran and its proxies, together with throughout talks with Tehran-backed Hamas because the battle with Israel in Gaza grinds on. The U.S. additionally has about 10,000 troops stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, an set up that serves because the ahead headquarters of U.S. Central Command.
The president mentioned he directed particular envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar of the approaching assault within the capital, Doha, after studying about it and that Witkoff was fast to name Qatari officers. However the U.S. alert was, “sadly, too late to cease the assault,” Trump mentioned.
International Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari refuted in a put up on X that the Qataris got any warning from the U.S., saying it got here simply as “the explosions from the Israeli strikes had been being heard.”
Qatar has sought nearer ties with Trump
The Qataris have sought to deepen their relationship with Trump since his return to workplace. They’ve even gifted Trump a $400 million Boeing 747 jet that’s to be retrofitted into a brand new Air Power One. Trump has mentioned the aircraft will likely be donated to a future presidential library as soon as his time period ends and placed on show as a museum piece.
“I view Qatar as a robust Ally and good friend of the U.S., and really feel very badly in regards to the location of the assault,” Trump mentioned on social media.
On the identical time, Qatar, a rich nation with expansive pure fuel and oil reserves, has confronted scrutiny for its assist of Hamas. Previous to the Israel-Hamas battle, Doha for years despatched tens of millions of {dollars} monthly to the Gaza Strip to prop up Hamas’ governing construction. Qatar has additionally hosted leaders of the Taliban and the Muslim Brotherhood.
In a fastidiously worded assertion, Trump additionally made clear that “eliminating Hamas” was a “worthy aim.”
Trump’s effort to attempt to assuage Qatar with out criticizing Israel comes as he struggles to search out an endgame to the practically two-year-old battle in Gaza and win the discharge of 48 hostages, about 20 who’re believed to nonetheless be alive.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt, talking at a briefing earlier Tuesday, didn’t say how lengthy earlier than the Israeli strikes that Qatar was warned.
She, like Trump, additionally didn’t tackle whether or not there was any concern that the Qataris may, in flip, have forewarned Hamas leaders that the Israeli strike was coming. Hamas says its high leaders survived the Israeli strike and that 5 lower-ranking members died.
Israeli warning to the US described as imprecise
The U.S. navy was notified in regards to the Israeli strike forward of time via navy channels, however a U.S. official described that notification as very imprecise.
The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to freely focus on delicate issues, mentioned the notification included the truth that the Israeli navy was going to assault Hamas however didn’t embody specifics like a location, which made it inadequate to permit for any well timed follow-on warnings to international locations within the area.
Israel perfunctorily warning the U.S. forward of operations has been an aggravation for a lot of the battle, in line with a former U.S. authorities official who requested anonymity to debate the delicate diplomatic challenge. Regularly, the official mentioned, Israeli notification “consisted of them calling somebody on the embassy or on the Pentagon when planes had been already within the air.”
But, with a strike this delicate, the official mentioned, it was troublesome to imagine Israel had not not less than obtained tacit approval from the U.S. earlier than transferring ahead with the operation.
White Home and State Division officers didn’t reply to requests for remark in regards to the timing or substance of Witkoff’s warning to Qatar.
Jonathan Schanzer, a former counterterrorism analyst on the U.S. Treasury Division, mentioned the White Home’s public feedback could also be partially an effort to assist Qatar save face and preserve its relations regular with america.
“It’s harm management,” mentioned Schanzer, who’s government director of the Basis for the Protection of Democracies in Washington. However he added that the strike may have an effect on the Qataris and their relationship with Hamas transferring ahead.
“There’s quite a lot of taking inventory proper now by all events,” he mentioned.
Trump talks with either side
Trump spoke with Netanyahu and Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and different Qatari officers following the strikes.
“I assured them that such a factor is not going to occur once more on their soil,” Trump mentioned of his dialog with Qatari officers.
Leavitt demurred when requested if there could be any penalties for the Israelis or Netanyahu for the strike that she recommended was surprising by U.S. officers.
Trump posted on social media Sunday a cryptic warning to Hamas hinting at a brand new American proposal to alternate all of the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners and finish the battle in Gaza.
“I’ve warned Hamas in regards to the penalties of not accepting,” Trump mentioned. “That is my final warning, there is not going to be one other one!”
Requested if Trump had been hinting on the Doha strike, Leavitt replied, “No, he was not.”
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