Calling Qatar “a great ally of the United States,” President Donald Trump sent a clear message to Israel and warned it to be “very careful” about how it handles Qatar.
On being asked about whether he has a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israeli strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar, which took place last week, Trump answered: “My message is that they have to be very, very careful. They have to do something about Hamas, but Qatar has been a great ally to the United States.”
At Morristown Airport in New Jersey, while speaking to Reporters, Trump said that he believes the Qatari Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to be a “wonderful person”.
Trump, who has sought to distance himself from the strike, hosted Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, on Friday, for dinner in New York, days after the Israeli strike in Doha.
NETANYAHU INVOKED 9/11 TO DEFEND DOHA STRIKE
In his video address, Netanyahu said, “What did America do in the wake of September 11th? It promised to hunt down the terrorists who committed this heinous crime, wherever they may be. And it also passed a resolution in the UN Security Council, two weeks later, stating that governments cannot give harbour to terrorists. Well, yesterday, we acted along those lines.”
Qatar condemned Israeli strikes on Doha, calling it “a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
Israel struck the headquarters of Hamas’ political leadership in Qatar on September 9 as the group’s top figures gathered to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The strike on the territory of a US ally marked a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages.
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