Washington: US President Donald Trump has emphasized the strong ties between the United States and Qatar, warning Israel to proceed with caution following a deadly airstrike on the Qatari capital, Doha.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday while returning to the White House from Morristown, New Jersey, Trump praised Qatar's role as a strategic partner in the region.
A journalist asked Trump: "What is your message for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the Israeli attacks on Qatar?"
The remarks came days after an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeted senior Hamas officials, resulting in the deaths of five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The strike triggered widespread regional condemnation, complicating efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
When asked about his message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the attack, Trump urged caution:
“So, Israel and everybody else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful.”
Just two days before the comments, Trump had hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani for a dinner in New York. According to Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, the meeting was described as having gone “great.”
The Israeli strike reportedly occurred while Hamas officials were engaged in talks over a new US-backed proposal to halt the war in Gaza—a conflict that has, since October 2023, resulted in the deaths of nearly 65,000 Palestinians, according to regional sources.
In private conversations following the attack, Trump expressed displeasure over Israel’s unilateral action. He reportedly instructed his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to issue a warning to Qatar. However, Qatari officials later stated they received the warning only after the assault had begun.
The incident has thrown a wrench into ongoing ceasefire negotiations, most of which have been facilitated by Qatar, with support from the US and Egypt.
Qatar remains one of the key mediators seeking to end the war and restore stability in the region.
Trump also made several significant statements while discussing various aspects of international relations and global politics. He said that large quantities of drugs are coming into the United States from Venezuela, which he described as a serious problem. Criticizing the leadership of Venezuela, he stated, “Venezuela standing with gang leaders is unacceptable.”
Emphasizing the importance of international diplomatic norms, he said that caution is needed when targeting individuals. Expressing regret over the declining respect for the United States globally, he remarked, “The American flag is being burned around the world — this is absolutely wrong.”
Ready to Impose Sanctions on Russia:
Speaking about Europe, Trump said, “Europe is our friend, but it is buying oil from Russia, which the United States does not approve of.” He made it clear that “America does not want Europe to buy oil or natural gas from Russia.”
According to him, even buying cigarettes from Russia goes against U.S. policy, and the United States is prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia.
Regarding TikTok, Trump said that negotiations are ongoing, but the final decision depends on China.
