US says strike on Doha ‘does not advance Israel’s goals’

The US has said Israel’s strike on Hamas targets in Qatar “does not advance Israel or America’s goals”, adding that President Donald Trump “feels very badly” about the attack.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump at a briefing on Tuesday. It said the US was notified Israel was attacking Hamas, with a strike “very unfortunately” taking place in the capital Doha.

It described Qatar as “a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace”.

Six people were killed in the strike, Hamas said, including one member of the Qatari security forces, but the group said its leadership team survived.

The Israeli military said it conducted a “precise strike” targeted at Hamas senior leaders using “precise munitions”. Israeli media reported the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, which fired 10 munitions against a single target.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorised the strike and there would be “no immunity” for Hamas leaders.

At the White House briefing on Tuesday, Leavitt said: “President Trump immediately directed Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did. The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States.”

“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,” she added.

Leavitt said “eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal” and reiterated that Trump “wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released in this war to end now”.

The attack took place on Tuesday, with footage showing a badly damaged building in Doha.

Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the strike “in the strongest possible terms,” and said the attack was a “blatant violation” of international law.

Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political bureau since 2012 and played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between the group and Israel since the 7 October attacks.