Trump demanded Netanyahu commit not to strike Qatar again

• The attack was damaging not just for Israel's global standing, but potentially for America's.
• Qatar's prime minister told the White House his country would now reevaluate its security partnership with Washington after this act of "betrayal," and said in a CNN interview that leaders across the Gulf were discussing how to respond.
• But Netanyahu is publicly unapologetic, even suggesting he might order another attack, regardless of Trump's demand.

What they're saying: Trump's advisers were genuinely shocked by the strike in Qatar, a close U.S. ally and now the seventh country Israel has bombed since Oct. 7, 2023.

• "I'm not thrilled about the whole situation. I was very unhappy about every aspect," Trump told reporters on Tuesday night.
• One source close to Trump told Axios that the way Netanyahu and his confidant Ron Dermer handled the issue "was an unpleasant reminder" of the behavior that led to friction with Trump in his first term.

Behind the scenes: Trump held two phone calls with Netanyahu on Tuesday to discuss the strike in Qatar, U.S. officials said.

• During their first call, Trump expressed disappointment with the Israeli decision and puzzlement over what it was supposed to achieve long term.
• "It's unacceptable. I demand that you do not repeat it," Trump told Netanyahu, according to two sources with knowledge.
• Trump then updated the Qatari emir and prime minister, both of whom were furious. One former U.S. official said Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani told U.S. officials that he views what happened as a betrayal by Israel and by the U.S.
• Al-Thani told White House envoy Steve Witkoff that after being attacked by both Iran and then Israel within six months, Qatar will conduct a deep evaluation of its security partnership with the U.S. "and maybe find some other partners" who can support its security if needed, a source with direct knowledge said.

The latest: A White House official denied the Qataris conveyed such a message and stressed the U.S. is going to enhance security cooperation with Qatar.

• Qatar's International Media Office said in a statement Qatar is not re-evaluating its security partnership with the U.S. which is "stronger than ever and continues to grow."
• "Our two countries have supported each another for many years, and we will continue working together to promote global peace and stability," the Qatari statement read.

What he is saying: In a video he released on Wednesday, Netanyahu pushed back and hinted he will not hesitate to order a second strike on Qatar if Hamas leaders stay in the country.

• "I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don't, we will," he said.
• Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar is similar to the U.S. pursuit of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan after 9/11. "What did America do in the wake of September 11th? It promised to hunt down the terrorists who committed this heinous crime, wherever they may be. Yesterday, we acted along those lines," Netanyahu said.

Flashback: Despite those statements, Netanyahu asked Qatar to lead the mediation efforts with Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks, and previously facilitated payments from Qatar to Hamas for years.

The other side: Prime Minister al-Thani told CNN that Netanyahu must "be brought to justice" for breaking international law by attacking Qatar in what he called an act of "state terror."

• He said Qatar is discussing a response with partners in the region. "The entire Gulf region is at risk."
• Leaders in Europe and across much of the world have also condemned the Israeli strike.
• Hamas claims the Israeli attack was a failure because its top leaders survived. It's not yet fully clear which members were and were not killed.

Editor's note: This story was updated with the denials from the White House official and the Qatari government that Qatar threatened to reevaluate its security relationship with Washington.