Israel attacks Hamas senior leadership in Qatar
Officials said Israeli missiles were housing the construction of Doha homes “several members of Hamas Politburo.”
Scripps News
WASHINGTON – The White House has stomped accusation of Israel’s unprecedented air strikes in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders, saying President Donald Trump “feels it very bad.”
White House press chief Caroline Leavitt notified the Trump administration of the impending attack just before it happened, adding that it was “very sadly in part of Doha.”
“We are unilaterally bombing within Qatar, a sovereign state, a close ally of the United States, working hard to take risks bravely to mediate peace with us, but we are not moving forward with Israeli and American goals,” Leavitt said. “But it is a valuable goal to eliminate Hamas, who benefited from the misery of those living in Gaza.”
The Doha strike marked the expansion of Israeli military action against Hamas in the Middle East, including the Arab Gulf, where Palestinian Muslim groups had long been political foundations.
Trump immediately instructed his special envoy in the Middle East, Stephen Witkov, to notify Qatari leaders that the attack was taking place, Leavitt said.
After the attack, Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he “has made his thoughts and concerns very clear,” and that he believes “the unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.”
Trump assured Qatari leaders in another conversation after the attack – Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim al Thani and the country’s chief Tamim bin bin Khalifa al Thani – “That kind of thing will never happen again in their soil,” Lewitt said.
“The president sees Qatar as a strong American ally and friend and feels very bad about the location of this attack,” Leebitt said.
Citing Hamas’ sources, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported that Hamas negotiators, which were targeted by Israel, survived. Air sirens mourned in Jerusalem around 8pm local time as the troops reported temporarily hiding incoming rocket attacks from Yemen and their residents.
Netanyahu said Israel took “all responsibility” for the attacks and called it a “completely independent Israeli operation.”
“Israel has started it, Israel has done it, and Israel is fully responsible,” Netanyahu said.
Contribution: Kim Hjelmgaard from USA Today
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