Biden administration national security spokesperson John Kirby and Fox News Correspondent Peter Doocy engaged in a testy exchange after Doocy questioned the Biden administration’s working with and thanking Qatar for assistance in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Doocy got the ball rolling by asking:

“Talking about getting Americans out of Gaza, President Biden said, ‘I want to thank our partners in the region and particularly Qatar.’ The leader of Hamas lives in Qatar! So, why is President Biden thanking them for anything?”

Kirby tried to answer, but Doocy couldn’t hold his tongue, Mediaite reports.

“Oh, geez, Peter,” Kirby said. “Let’s take a step back here and look at this. Qatar was — “

“They’re the terrorist group that killed Americans and kidnapped Americans within the last month!”

Kirby, undeterred, continued:

“Peter, Qatar has been helpful in getting those Americans out. I’m sure you would agree with me, and everybody at your network would agree that getting American hostages out is a good thing. And Qatar was a key player in that regard. Qatar has lines of communication with Hamas that almost nobody else has.

“Now, I’m not saying we support Hamas. Of course, we don’t. They’re a terrorist organization. And Israel has an absolute right to go after them.”

“But Qatar has lines of communication that not everybody else has,” Kirby explained. “And it would be irresponsible. In fact, I would expect that you and everybody else in here would be going after me if we weren’t doing everything we could and having every possible conversation we can have to get Americans that are held hostage back home with their families. If we weren’t doing that, it would be diplomatic malpractice.”

Then Kirby read a quote from a Hamas representative who insisted that Israel “must be finished.”

That really got Doocy all fired up.

“You’re making my point here! Doocy retorted amidst Kirby’s protestations. “If Qatar is so helpful, why aren’t we asking them to hand over the leader of this terrorist group?”

“We are working with Qatar to get our people out and to help to get aid in. That’s a priority right now. And obviously, we’re also helping Israel go after Hamas,” Kirby said.

Qatar has been hosting the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas since October 7, when the war began. American hostages are caught in the middle along with some 200 others in Gaza. Hamas has released two Americans so far.

I’m certain White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is glad she didn’t have to deal with Doocy’s obnoxious questioning this time around. He has a habit of driving White House officials nuts with his questions.

Peter Doocy: "Talking about getting Americans out of Gaza, President Biden said I want to thank our partners in the region and particularly Qatar. The leader of Hamas lives in Qatar. Why is President Biden thanking them for anything?!"

John Kirby: "Oh jeez, Peter!" pic.twitter.com/98xOazLCnn

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 2, 2023