Netanyahu's Qatar Strike Strains US-Israel Peace Talks, Delays Gaza Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump, along with his key Middle East negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, expressed feeling "betrayed" by Israel's unexpected strike on Hamas operatives in Qatar, a U.S. ally and mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks. The September 9 attack by Israel, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without informing the White House, severely damaged diplomatic trust, pushing Hamas underground and disrupting critical negotiations involving Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. Kushner indicated that Trump viewed Israel's actions as "getting a little bit out of control" and felt compelled to take a stronger stance to prevent further actions detrimental to long-term peace efforts. The strike's fallout threatened to derail ceasefire talks, but intense diplomatic pressure led Netanyahu to apologize to Qatar's leadership, helping restore relations and eventually contributing to a historic peace deal. Despite the setbacks, the negotiations culminated in a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, with ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages. This episode revealed rare public criticism from the U.S. toward its longstanding ally Israel during a volatile period in Middle East diplomacy.