A senior Israeli official has issued a blistering accusation against Qatar, alleging the Gulf state is engaged in a deliberate campaign to "destroy the relationship between Israel and the Trump administration from the ground up" . According to a report by The Times of Israel, the official went so far as to state that Qatar is engaged "in jihad," highlighting the extreme depth of distrust in a critical regional relationship .
These explosive charges come at a moment of high tension and complex diplomacy. The U.S. is actively working to implement the second phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, an effort that critically depends on coordination between Israel, Qatar, and the United States . The allegations suggest that beneath the surface of diplomatic talks, a fierce behind-the-scenes battle for influence is raging.
The Flashpoint: A Shocking Strike in Doha
The current crisis traces directly back to September 9, 2025, when Israeli jets conducted an unprecedented airstrike in Qatar's capital, Doha. The target was a residential complex housing senior Hamas negotiators who were involved in talks to end the Gaza war. The attack killed six people, including a Qatari security guard, and marked the first direct Israeli military strike on a Gulf Cooperation Council member state .
The international reaction was swift and severe. United Nations human rights experts condemned the strike as a violation of Qatar's sovereignty and a devastating blow to peace-making efforts . The attack was widely seen as a humiliating breach of trust for Qatar, which had been acting as a key mediator at the request of the United States for over a decade .
In the aftermath, Qatar temporarily stepped back from its mediation role. Under intense pressure from President Trump, who was reportedly "frustrated" and "disappointed" by Israel's move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was compelled to call the Qatari Prime Minister from the White House to apologize .
A Fragile Reconciliation and Mounting Grievances
To repair the damage, the Trump administration established a formal trilateral mechanism between the U.S., Israel, and Qatar . The first high-level meeting under this framework was held just last week in New York, hosted by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and attended by Mossad chief David Barnea .
However, the Israeli official's new accusations reveal that the reconciliation is paper-thin. Israel's grievances, which Netanyahu intended to raise in these trilateral talks, are extensive.
For its part, Qatar feels deeply wronged. The Prime Minister has called the Doha strike an "unethical" and "unprecedented" attack on the very concept of mediation . Furthermore, Qatar has drawn a clear line on the future of Gaza, stating it "will not write the cheque for what others destroyed," placing the onus for reconstruction squarely on Israel .
The Stakes: A U.S. Peace Plan in the Balance
These mutual accusations threaten to derail the precarious next phase of President Trump's peace plan. The success of the plan hinges on implementing complex, interlocking steps, including the disarmament of Hamas, the formation of an international security force, and the massive reconstruction of Gaza—all areas where Qatari cooperation or funding would be highly valuable .
The situation places the Trump administration in a difficult position. The U.S. has unequivocally committed to Qatar's security, with President Trump issuing an executive order in September 2025 that guarantees to defend Qatar against external attack . Simultaneously, the administration is Israel's closest ally and is pushing hard to advance its flagship foreign policy achievement in Gaza .
The Israeli official's dramatic warning suggests that, from Israel's perspective, Qatar is not just a difficult partner but an active saboteur.
As diplomatic talks continue, the fundamental question is whether the shared goal of implementing the Gaza ceasefire can overcome this profound and volatile mistrust, or if the relationship will fracture further, endangering the entire peace process.
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