Qatar’s government has been seething over yesterday’s surprise attack on Hamas’s headquarters located in its capital, Doha. While Qatar’s ruling Al Thani family was probably not surprised by Israel’s attempt to wipe out Hamas’s political leadership that had been seemingly protected in their country, the entire Al Thani family appears to be angrier that President Trump seemingly knew about the attack and only warned the Muslim Brotherhood-led Qatar at the last moment.
Of course, Trump tried to play dumb, but Israel would have never pulled off that kind of attack in broad daylight with ten F-35’s, without buy-in from Washington. After all, America has its biggest regional air force base, the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and Israel wouldn’t have been able to approach it without triggering a response from the USA.
Add on that Trump’s announcement of an imminent ceasefire and Israel’s sudden acceptance of Trump’s proposal was the main reason Hamas’s leadership gathered together in Doha, allowing for the ten Israeli F-35s to wipe them out, surely implies that Trump had a hand in Israel’s attack. Another “Red Wedding” style take down, similar to Israel’s surprise attack on the Iranian military leadership at the start of the 12-Day War; an attack that was set up by Trump’s negotiation ruse using Steve Witkoff.
So what’s going on? Isn’t Qatar a US ally?
Yes and no. President Trump views foreign policy as a set of partnerships, rather than permanent alliances. Qatar might have money – lots of it. Still, they have had an outsized negative influence on American politics and America’s higher education, which is fast turning into a breeding ground for extremist ideologies. Qatar has also been the main funder of ISIS and has backed Turkey’s march to a rejuvenated caliphate.
By unleashing Israel on Qatar, the President is sending a message. He will do business with the Qataris, but they have to stop their double game. The Emir and the rest of his family must halt their support of Jihadists around the world, or Israel will continue to be allowed to hit inside Qatar. The Al Thani family has always tried to position itself on the one hand as the main backer of global Jihad and on the other as a reliable Western partner. President Trump’s message is: “We have our pit bull in the region. If you don’t shape up, we will let it attack.” Israel is now that regional pit bull. The Al Thani family cares about one thing, even more than exporting Jihad, and that is its own survival. If the US is now willing to play Qatar’s double game even better than its rulers, then the Al Thani family is for the first time in an exposed state.
Hamas has always been a useful proxy for Qatar, but after yesterday’s surprise attack by Israel, President Trump is hoping that the Jihadist terror group will be seen as a liability for the Al Thani-run Qatar. While Hamas in Gaza may not put their arms down even if Qatar orders them to, at the very least, yesterday’s attack can be used to further isolate the group before Israel goes in for the kill. And that brings the region one step closer to an end of the conflict with an Israeli victory.