Axios: Netanyahu Informed Trump of the Doha Bombing by Phone 50 Minutes Before the Attack Occurred

Translation by SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed U.S. President Donald Trump last Tuesday morning that Israel planned to attack Hamas leaders in Qatar shortly before the strike, according to three Israeli officials familiar with the matter, as reported by Axios and translated by SadaNews.

The White House claimed it was only notified after the missiles were launched, which did not give Trump an opportunity to prevent the attack. Seven Israeli officials told Axios that the White House was aware ahead of time, even if the window to stop it was tight.

When Trump was asked Tuesday evening if he had been informed in advance by Israel, he denied it. He publicly expressed his disapproval of the attack given that Qatar is a key ally of the United States.

White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt told Axios: "As President Trump mentioned, the U.S. military informed him about the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, and he immediately directed his special envoy Steve Wietkopf to notify Qatar."

Last week, U.S. officials reported that the U.S. military spotted Israeli aircraft in the air and requested an explanation from Israel, which did not respond until after ballistic missiles were launched towards Hamas's headquarters in Doha.

The White House stated that Wietkopf rushed to warn the Qataris, but by that time the missiles had already struck their target. Media outlets, including Axios, reported that Trump was not consulted. Bombing a U.S. ally without consulting Washington would be a bold move by Israel, especially since Hamas leadership was meeting to discuss Trump's latest peace proposals for Gaza.

According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu informed the White House very late in the process, but it was early enough to cancel the strike.

Three Israeli officials told Axios, as translated by SadaNews, that Netanyahu called Trump about the imminent strike around 8 AM Washington time. Initial reports of explosions in Doha came at 8:51 AM.

Trump was aware of the strike before the missiles were launched. Initially, there was a political discussion between Netanyahu and Trump, and then through military channels. A senior Israeli official claimed that Trump did not reject it.

Another senior Israeli official stated that the U.S. was "previously" informed on the political level. "If Trump wanted to stop it, he could have. But practically, he did not," he said.

The officials said that the missiles had not yet been launched when Trump and Netanyahu spoke, and they claimed that Israel would have canceled the strike if Trump had objected.

A third Israeli official, according to SadaNews translation, confirmed that Israel informed the Trump administration in advance, but he mentioned that Israel decided to go along with the White House's denial of prior knowledge.

The official stated: "From our side, it was decided to assist them in that for the sake of the U.S.-Israeli relationship."

A fourth Israeli official said: "The Americans are showing falsehood. We informed them of the details of the attack."

A fifth Israeli official added that the Trump administration has clear reasons to distance itself from the strike. What they say publicly should be taken with caution.

A sixth Israeli official noted that this is not the first time the Trump administration has "fabricated" matters regarding its conversations with Israel for political considerations.

The Doha strike has shaken relations between the United States and Qatar, created tensions between the U.S. and Israel, and significantly increased Israel's regional and global isolation.

Five members of Hamas and a Qatari security officer were killed in the strike, but Hamas stated that all of its senior leaders survived.

Israeli officials confirmed this to Axios, stating that the intelligence gathered after the strike indicates that senior leaders left the building shortly before the explosions.