Trump Meets With Hostage Families and Survivors Following Israeli Strike on Hamas Leaders in Qatar

Latest Developments

Trump Meets With Former Hostages, Families: U.S. President Donald Trump met on September 10 with a delegation of former Israeli hostages and family members of those still held in Hamas captivity, one day after an Israeli strike in Doha targeted senior leaders of the terrorist organization. The Oval Office meeting included special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On September 9, Trump demanded that Hamas release the remaining 48 hostages still held in Gaza.
Qatari Prime Minister Threatens Response to IDF Strike in Doha: Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani threatened that “there will be a response” to Israel’s September 10 strike. Asked about the outcome of Israel’s attack and whether any senior Hamas leaders were killed, Al Thani avoided a direct answer, stating instead that Qatar “is trying to identify if there are more missing people.” Al Thani also claimed that Israel had put the “entire Gulf region” in danger.
Netanyahu Implores States Harboring Hamas to Extradite: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on September 10 that Qatar and other nations harboring Hamas members should “expel them” or “bring them to justice,” emphasizing that if they did not, Israel “will.” In his statement honoring the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda attacks in the United States, Netanyahu compared Israel’s targeting of Hamas leaders abroad to the U.S. raid that eliminated Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011, adding that countries condemning Israel over its strikes in Doha “should be ashamed of themselves.”

FDD Expert Response

“The lesson Qatar should learn from this week’s strike is that the days of sheltering Hamas with impunity are over. If Doha is smart, it will divorce Hamas and take a step back from the negotiating table.” — Natalie Ecanow, Senior Research Analyst

“Since coming into office, President Trump has consistently demonstrated his support for Israel without becoming mired in internal Israeli politics. Trump has consistently demonstrated support for the current Netanyahu government while providing a powerful platform for desperate hostage families.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network