Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, expressed feelings of “betrayal” alongside Jared Kushner regarding an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, which targeted Hamas leaders amidst ongoing negotiations. Witkoff, who made these remarks while sitting next to Kushner, mentioned he thought both of them felt caught off guard by the attack.
Kushner remarked on President Trump’s stance about the airstrikes, suggesting that Trump believed the Israeli actions were escalating uncontrollably. He thought it was necessary to intervene, emphasizing that some Israeli moves might not align with long-term interests.
Witkoff further elaborated that the strike disrupted negotiations, as the Qatari mediators were crucial in addition to their Egyptian and Turkish counterparts. He noted that trust was lost with the Qataris, leading Hamas to retreat underground, complicating efforts to reach out to them.
Witkoff learned of the airstrike the morning following the event. The planned targets were individuals linked to Palestinian terrorist organizations who had a history of involvement in operations against Israel, including the deadly October 7, 2023, attack. The Israeli military indicated these figures were managing the ongoing conflict.
As for civilian safety, military statements claimed that precautions were taken, such as utilizing precise weaponry, and efforts to eliminate Hamas will continue, according to officials.
Interestingly, most Hamas leaders reportedly survived this incident, and one of the officials, Khalil al-Haya, eventually met with Witkoff and Kushner in Egypt to bolster a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on October 10. This agreement also secured the return of all 20 hostages alive in Gaza, although 18 deceased bodies still remain unreturned.
