President Donald Trump “feels very badly” about the location of Israel’s strike targeting senior Hamas leadership in Qatar, the White House said on Tuesday.
While not condemning the Israeli action, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a statement she said reflected Trump’s views — one using strong language that showed some rare daylight between the president and Israel, describing the strike as an “unfortunate incident” that doesn’t benefit the U.S. or Israel.
Pressed repeatedly on whether Israel notified the U.S. ahead of the strike, Leavitt notably only said the White House and Trump were informed by the U.S. military.
“This morning, the Trump administration was notified by the United States military that as Israel was attacking Hamas, which very unfortunately was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar, 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,” Leavitt said from the podium at her press briefing.
“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal,” Leavitt added.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, September 9, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump directed Steve Witkoff, his special envoy to the Middle East, to inform the Qataris of the impending attack and Witkoff did, according to Leavitt.
“The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States and feels very badly about the location of this attack,” Leavitt continued. “President Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released in this war to end now. “
“President Trump also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack, the prime minister told President Trump that he wants to make peace and quickly, President Trump believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace,” she added. “The President also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar and thanked them for their support and friendship to our country. He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, said they were not warned about the strike in advance.
“The statements being circulated about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are baseless. The communication received from one of the American officials came during the sound of explosions resulting from the Israeli attack in Doha,” the spokesperson said.
Smoke rises after several blasts were heard in Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said airstrikes targeting Hamas leadership in Doha were “completely justified” in light of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel.
Hamas said five of its members were killed in the strike in Doha but that none were senior officials.
Leavitt said the White House learned of the attack “just before” it took place, but didn’t give any indication that a heads-up came from Israel, as has been given in the past.
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce pressed Leavitt if Israel informed the U.S. at all before the strike.
“What I can tell you is the United States military informed the Trump administration,” Leavitt responded.
When ABC’s Bruce asked if the president spoke with Netanyahu ahead of the strike and urged him not to go through with it, Leavitt repeated that they spoke after the strike.
