Trump 'not thrilled' by deadly Israeli strikes against Hamas in Qatar
The airstrike targeted Hamas officials negotiating an end to the war in Gaza, as ITV News' International Editor Emma Murphy reports
Israel strikes the headquarters of Hamas' political leadership in Qatar's capital, Doha
Hamas says five of its members were killed in the strike, and one member of the Qatari security forces
Trump says the US was told about the impending attack, and Special Envoy Witkoff tried to warn the Qataris, but it was "too late"
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the US' warning came just as “the explosions from the Israeli strikes were being heard"
US President Donald Trump has said he is "not thrilled" after Israel struck the headquarters of Hamas' political leadership in Qatar on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters a few hours after the attack, Trump said: "I'm not thrilled about the whole situation.
"It's not a good situation. But I will say this, we want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.
"I was very unhappy about it. Very unhappy about every aspect, and we got to get the hostages back, but I was very unhappy about the way that went down."
He added that he would be giving a "full statement" on Wednesday.
Five 'lower-level' Hamas members were killed in the strikes, according to the militant group.
One member of the Qatari security forces was also killed in the attack, which targeted Hamas officials negotiating an end to the war in Gaza.
Hamas said its top leaders survived the attack, but the son of Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas' leader for Gaza and its top negotiator, was killed.
The militant group, which had previously only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof that al-Hayya and other senior figures had survived.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it conducted a "precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organisation".
An explosion rang out in the capital city on Tuesday afternoon, with pictures on social media showing smoke billowing into the sky.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the bombing was an "independent" action by his country.
In a statement on X shortly after the attack, Netanyahu's office said Israel takes "full responsibility".
"Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," the statement read.
Hamas’ exiled leadership has long been based in Qatar, which has served as a mediator in talks between Hamas and Israel for several years, even before the latest war in the Gaza Strip.
The attack angered Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf nation which is one of the US’ closest allies in the Middle East and home to the Al Udeid Air Base, the biggest American military facility in the region.
Qatar condemned what it referred to as a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms."
US President Donald Trump repeated the White House claim that he instructed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar about the impending strike, but it was “unfortunately, too late to stop the attack".
But Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari derided the warning, saying in a post on X that it came just as “the explosions from the Israeli strikes were being heard.”
It followed a statement by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who briefed reporters on when and what the US knew about the attack.
Leavitt said Trump spoke to Netanyahu after the attack and “made his thoughts and concerns very clear.”
The strike threatens to derail long-stalled ceasefire talks, as Israel gears up for a major offensive aimed at taking over Gaza City.
Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, lashed out at Netanyahu for “dragging the region to a place where it unfortunately cannot be repaired.”
Asked at a news conference if cease-fire talks would continue, Sheikh Mohammed said that after the strike, “I don’t think there’s anything valid” in the current talks. But he stopped short of saying Qatar would end its mediation efforts, saying “we will do whatever we can to stop this war.”
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the strike, describing the attack as a "flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty".
"All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire," he said.
"It lays bare the stark reality the world is spending far more on waging war than on building peace," the UN chief added.
A strike on its top leadership in Qatar could further complicate negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken by Hamas.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the strike a "deep concern" and worry for those captured.
"We know from the survivors who have returned that the revenge directed at the hostages is brutal," the statement said.
"The chance of bringing them back now faces greater uncertainty than ever before, with one thing of absolute certainty - their time is running out."
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No 10 denied having any prior knowledge of the attack, saying it was “an Israeli-led operation” and “an entirely independent operation”.
In a statement on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he condemned the attack, which "violates Qatar’s sovereignty and risks further escalation across the region".
"The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza," he said. "This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace."
Starmer will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the UK on Wednesday.
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