- An Israeli official claims former President Donald Trump provided tacit approval for a potential operation targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar.
- The unconfirmed report, if true, would mark a significant escalation in the US-Israel counterterror strategy and risk major diplomatic fallout with Gulf states.
- The claim emerges amid a backdrop of intensified regional military action, including recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, has told Channel 12 that former President Donald Trump gave a "green light" for an attack on Hamas's political leadership residing in Qatar. The report, which could not be immediately corroborated by other sources, suggests a dramatic shift in US policy that would directly support Israeli extraterritorial counterterror operations.
Efforts to reach officials in Washington and Doha for comment were not immediately successful. A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's office declined to confirm or deny the Channel 12 report, stating only that "Israel will take all necessary measures to protect its citizens, wherever that may be."
The alleged approval connects to the Trump administration's robust support for Israel's military objectives since returning to power in late 2024. This policy has already included preemptive joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, which prompted retaliatory missile launches from Iran that targeted US bases in Qatar. Targeting Hamas officials in Qatar, a key US ally and mediator in previous hostage negotiations, would represent a profound gamble, potentially destabilizing a critical diplomatic relationship.
Regional analysts were quick to highlight the severe implications. "Authorizing an operation on Qatari soil would be unprecedented for a US administration," said one expert familiar with Gulf diplomacy. "It would be seen not just as an attack on Hamas, but as a violation of Qatar's sovereignty. The GCC's reaction would likely be swift and severe, potentially ending Doha's role as a neutral intermediary."
The report emerges as ceasefire and hostage-release deals, which saw temporary success in early 2025, have once again broken down. Israel has intensified its aerial campaign in Gaza throughout the year, and the targeting of Hamas's external leadership has long been considered a possible next step. However, executing such a move with US backing would mark a new chapter in the conflict, blurring the lines between intelligence sharing and direct operational collaboration. The international legal ramifications are also significant, likely drawing condemnation from global bodies and further isolating the US and Israel diplomatically.