The Trump Administration slams Israel for targeting Hamas leaders inside the territory of US ally Qatar, while stressing that eliminating Hamas is a worthy goal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sets out the administration’s position in a prepared statement, in which she says US President Donald Trump told the Qataris of the impending Israeli strike after he learned about it from the US military. Trump also spoke to Netanyahu and to Qatar’s leaders after the attack.

Reading from the statement, she begins by saying the White House was notified “by the US military” ahead of the attack.

She then condemns Israel, saying that “unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.”

However, she says, “eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

She says Trump, on learning of the imminent strike, immediately told special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris “of the impending attack, which he did.”

Trump “views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States and feels very badly about the location of this attack,” says Leavitt.

Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies released, she adds, and “this war to end now.”

Noting that Trump called Netanyahu after the attacks, she continues: “The prime minister told President Trump that he wants to make peace, and quickly.”

Trump believes “this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace,” she says.

Trump also called the Qatari emir and prime minister to thank them for their “support and friendship” with the US, and he “assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”