American president issues executive order calling any attack on Qatar a direct threat to US peace and security
The United States has made a dramatic security pledge to the State of Qatar following a controversial Israeli strike in Doha that killed several Hamas members and a Qatari guard.
On Wednesday, the White House published an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, declaring that any future armed attack on Qatar will be treated as “a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”
Trump presses Israel to apologize
The move comes three weeks after Israel’s strike in the Qatari capital, which targeted Hamas leaders but sparked outrage when civilians were killed.
Trump reportedly pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to personally apologize to Qatar’s leadership. Netanyahu later insisted Israel was targeting “terrorists, not Qataris” and expressed regret over the loss of life.
At a joint press conference with Trump, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel “wasn’t targeting Qatar” and promised to avoid such incidents in the future.
US signals stronger role in Gulf security
The executive order makes clear that Washington will “take all lawful and appropriate measures — diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and Qatar.”
The order also instructs senior US officials to coordinate a rapid response to any foreign aggression against Qatar. This reflects Qatar’s key role as both a diplomatic mediator in the Gaza war and the host of a major US airbase that has previously come under attack.
Qatar’s role in Gaza conflict mediation
Qatar has long hosted Hamas’s political leadership and played a central role in efforts to broker ceasefires. However, the recent strike led Doha to pause its mediation role.
Still, Trump’s order highlights Qatar’s “extensive diplomatic and mediation experience” and calls on the US secretary of state to keep partnering with Qatar on conflict resolution.
The move is also linked to Trump’s broader peace plan to end the Gaza war, which Qatar has praised and Netanyahu has formally accepted.