In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Qatar is weighing a fundamental reassessment of its long-standing security partnership with the United States following Israel's strike on Hamas leaders in Doha. A source with direct knowledge told reporters that Qatar will conduct a "deep evaluation" of its security reliance on Washington, warning that it may "find some other partners" to ensure its protection if needed. This sharp message comes as former President Donald Trump privately demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledge not to launch another attack on Qatari soil.
According to Axios, the Israeli strike caught Trump's team completely off guard and infuriated the White House, which had not been consulted before missiles were launched. The move risked destabilizing U.S. alliances in the Gulf and triggered global alarm. Qatar's prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, conveyed to Washington that the attack constituted an act of betrayal, confirming suspicions in Doha that Israel and the U.S. had failed to safeguard an ally that hosts major American military bases. He signaled that Qatar—and perhaps other Gulf partners—were now openly considering alternatives to their U.S.-centric security strategy.
Trump, who is campaigning to return to the Oval Office, quickly moved to contain the diplomatic fallout. He held two tense calls with Netanyahu on Tuesday, U.S. officials said, pressing Israel's leader to explain the rationale behind the operation. During those conversations, Trump rebuked Netanyahu, calling the strike "unacceptable" and demanding a commitment never to repeat it. He then updated Qatari leaders, who remained furious, with al-Thani reportedly telling American envoys that Doha could no longer entirely trust Washington to shield it from direct attacks.
Netanyahu, however, remained defiant. In a video statement released Wednesday, he doubled down, warning that if Hamas leaders stayed in Qatar, Israel reserved the right to strike again. Drawing a provocative comparison, he likened Israel's stance to America's global hunt for al-Qaeda after the September 11 attacks. "You either expel terrorists or you bring them to justice. If you don't, we will," Netanyahu declared, brushing aside Trump's demand and widening the rift with Gulf capitals.
The irony of the situation is stark. Since the Hamas-led assault against Israel on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu has leaned heavily on Qatar to mediate with Hamas and facilitate humanitarian arrangements. For years, Israel quietly accepted Qatari cash infusions to Gaza. Yet now, Israel is targeting the very state that served as a go-between, further straining already fragile regional dynamics.
Qatar's International Media Office, seemingly keen to cool the flames, issued a carefully worded statement stressing that its ties with Washington remain "stronger than ever." Nonetheless, diplomats acknowledge that public rhetoric aside, trust has been shaken. Regional leaders have joined Qatar in condemning the strike, with Gulf governments warning that the entire region is becoming increasingly vulnerable to spillover conflict.
In the meantime, Hamas has claimed the Israeli strike failed to eliminate its leadership in Doha, casting doubt over what Israel achieved tactically while multiplying the strategic costs. For Washington, the episode highlights the perils of being blindsided by a close ally—and the mounting risks of standing too close to Netanyahu's hardline decisions. For Qatar, it lays bare the fragility of even its most trusted security partnerships. For Trump, it was a sobering reminder that his most incredible foreign-policy headaches often arrive not as crises from adversaries, but surprises from friends.