Trump slams Netanyahu’s reckless Qatar strike as “unilateral” act of aggression
By isabelle // 2025-09-10
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  • Israel launched an uncoordinated missile strike on a Hamas compound in Doha, Qatar, killing several members and violating Qatari sovereignty.
  • President Trump condemned the attack, calling it reckless and counterproductive to U.S. and Israeli interests, while Qatar labeled it state terrorism.
  • Netanyahu defended the strike as justified retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks, but the move alienated allies and disrupted peace negotiations.
  • The EU, UAE, and Vatican condemned the attack, while Hamas survived with its leadership intact, leaving Israel further isolated diplomatically.
  • Trump reassured Qatar the U.S. would prevent future strikes, but the incident underscores Israel’s growing reputation as a rogue actor in global affairs.
Israel has bombed a Hamas compound in Doha, Qatar, a key U.S. ally and the site of America’s largest military base in the Middle East, in a move that sparked immediate backlash. President Donald Trump openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the reckless and uncoordinated attack, emphasizing that the decision was made solely by Israel and did nothing to benefit either nation. On Tuesday, 15 Israeli warplanes launched at least ten missiles at a Hamas compound in Doha, killing several members of the group, including the son of senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya. The strike was a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, a nation that has been working with the U.S. to broker peace in Gaza. And yet, Netanyahu—ever the loose cannon—decided to act alone, without warning Washington in advance.

A reckless move that backfired instantly

Trump wasted no time distancing himself from this fiasco. In a statement on Truth Social, he wrote: “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.” He later told reporters, “I’m not thrilled about it." "I was very unhappy about it, very unhappy about every aspect,” he added. And he had every reason to be. Qatar, which hosts al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East, was blindsided by the attack. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani didn’t hold back, calling it an act of “state terrorism” and warning that his country “reserves the right to respond.” He also accused Netanyahu of sabotaging peace talks—because, of course, that’s exactly what this was.

Netanyahu’s pattern of aggression

This isn’t the first time Netanyahu has acted without regard for U.S. interests. Trump’s advisers were furious that they weren’t given a heads-up, leaving them scrambling to warn Qatar when it was already too late. The White House claimed it was notified by the U.S. military just before the strike, but Qatar flatly denied receiving any prior warning. Instead, they said the first call from a U.S. official came after explosions were already rocking Doha. Netanyahu, ever defiant, called the strike “entirely justified,” claiming it targeted the masterminds behind the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. But let’s be real: this was not about justice. It was about Netanyahu’s desperation to look tough, even if it means alienating allies and derailing peace efforts. The fallout was immediate. The European Union condemned the attack as a breach of international law. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, called it “blatant and cowardly.” Even Pope Leo weighed in, expressing grave concern over the escalation. Meanwhile, Hamas—far from being crippled—survived the attack, with its leadership intact. The only real casualty here? Any remaining trust in Israel’s judgment.

Trump’s balancing act: Supporting Israel while condemning recklessness

Trump has been a strong supporter of Israel, but even he knows when a line has been crossed. He reassured Qatar that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil,” while also directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Doha. Yet the damage is done. Israel’s unilateral, aggressive actions are making it harder for the U.S. to maintain stability in the region. And Netanyahu? He’s playing a dangerous game—one that could isolate Israel even further on the world stage. If Israel keeps acting like a rogue state, bombing sovereign nations without warning, it won’t just lose allies; it will lose any credibility it has left. The U.S. can’t keep cleaning up Netanyahu’s messes forever. Trump’s frustration is understandable. He wants peace. He wants the hostages back. But Netanyahu’s reckless strikes aren’t helping—they’re making everything worse. At this point, it’s clear that Israel’s leadership is out of control. And if they don’t change course soon, they’ll find themselves with fewer friends... and a lot more enemies. Sources for this article include: RT.com Reuters.com CNN.com NBCNews.com ABCNews.go.com
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