In a dramatic move, President Trump signed an executive order extending U.S. protection to Qatar, even as Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to Doha over Israeli military operations and doubled down on the joint U.S.-Israel initiative to end the war.
In an unprecedented display of diplomatic muscle, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring that any armed strike against Qatar’s sovereignty or infrastructure will be treated as a direct attack on the United States. The order commits Washington to respond “by all lawful and appropriate means — diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military” to defend both American and Qatari interests.
The announcement came as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly unveiled their 21-point Initiative, a comprehensive framework aimed at ending the Gaza war and forcing Hamas to capitulate. The move underscored Washington’s intent to stabilize Gulf allies while bolstering Israel’s strategic hand against Iran-backed terror groups.
In a gesture of political tact, Netanyahu phoned Qatar’s Emir during the visit to express regret over the violation of Qatari sovereignty during Israel’s Operation Summit of Fire — a campaign that dealt Hamas one of its worst defeats in decades. Israel’s apology was framed not as weakness, but as a diplomatic balancing act: reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense while avoiding the escalation of conflict with regional players whose double-game between terror sponsorship and mediation remains under scrutiny.
The new U.S. guarantee effectively elevates Qatar into a special-security category, aligning it more firmly within Washington’s orbit. Yet critics warn this shield could embolden Doha’s problematic role as a financier and host of Hamas leadership. Israel’s strategic gamble, however, is clear: by securing Trump’s backing on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, Jerusalem ensures that Hamas and its patrons cannot dictate terms.
The executive order signals a broader doctrine — one that ties U.S. credibility not only to Israel’s survival but to the Gulf’s stability in the shadow of Iranian aggression. For Jerusalem, the message is equally sharp: Israel’s fight against Hamas is now inseparably linked to America’s regional security calculus.
