ABC News Daily Why Trump didn’t know about the Qatar bombing
Sep 10, 2025
Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, dissects the recent Israeli airstrike in Qatar targeting Hamas leadership and its implications for U.S. foreign policy. He explains the communication breakdown between U.S. and Qatari officials that left Trump in the dark, and analyzes Netanyahu's motivations behind the attack. The conversation also touches on Israel's shifting reputation in the Middle East and the complexities surrounding ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, indicating a daunting path to peace.
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Netanyahu Saw Tactical Benefit
- Netanyahu pursued the strike to keep the war going and exact revenge for recent attacks attributed to Hamas.
- Hussein Ibish argues the timing and motive show Israel wanted escalation rather than de-escalation.
Qatar's Perceived Shield Failed
- Qatar relied on closeness to the U.S. and hosting Al-Udeid Air Base as deterrence against attacks on its capital.
- Ibish says that perception failed when Israel struck in Doha with little effective prior warning to local authorities.
Warnings Came Too Late To Matter
- The timeline shows the U.S. likely received very short notice and then passed warning to Qatar only after the strike.
- Ibish contends warnings were too late to prevent the attack and thus functionally meaningless.