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The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump directed his Middle East envoy to notify Qatar of an impending Israeli attack, but Qatar disputed the timeline, saying any U.S. warning came only after strikes had already begun.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump "immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did." She said Trump subsequently spoke with leaders of both countries following the strikes.
The account drew a sharp contradiction from Doha. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said on X that "statements circulating about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are false."
"The call received from an American official came as explosions sounded from the Israeli attack in Doha," al-Ansari wrote, suggesting the notification occurred simultaneously with or after the strikes rather than beforehand.
Israel's military said Tuesday it conducted a "precise strike" targeting senior Hamas leadership in Qatar's capital, where explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising over the city's Katara District.
The Israeli army and Shin Bet security agency confirmed the joint operation dubbed "Operation Summit of Fire," saying they targeted "senior leadership of Hamas" including Khalil al-Hayya, the group's Gaza chief, and Zaher Jabareen.
"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 Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on X.
Sources told Al-Arabiya TV and Reuters that Hamas's negotiation delegation survived the assassination attempt. The Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting to discuss a new U.S. proposal for a ceasefire when the strike occurred.
The Israeli military said the targeted leaders "are directly responsible for carrying out the Oct. 7 massacre and managing the war against the State of Israel." The U.S. Embassy in Doha ordered American citizens to shelter in place.
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