On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally called Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to apologize for an Israeli airstrike that violated Qatari sovereignty in Doha, according to a source familiar with the matter, Axios reports. During the conversation, Netanyahu also expressed his regret over the death of a Qatari security officer during the incident.
This apology was a critical requirement for Qatar to resume its role as a mediator in talks with Hamas, which aim to broker an agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza and secure the release of remaining hostages. The phone call took place while Netanyahu was meeting with President Trump, raising hopes that it could pave the way for progress on a possible deal.
The White House announced that President Trump “hosted” the three-way call and expressed optimism that the gesture would help strengthen ties between Israel and Qatar, both important U.S. partners in the region.
Earlier, on September 9, Israel had launched an airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leadership. However, the attack resulted mainly in the deaths of lower-ranking officials and sparked widespread condemnation among Arab leaders.
Ironically, the controversial airstrike has generated momentum for a broader regional agreement to end the war, with President Trump reportedly hoping to announce such a deal during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C. Prior to Netanyahu’s arrival, Trump also spoke with Qatar’s emir to discuss the situation.
A source indicated that Israel will provide compensation to the family of the Qatari security officer who lost his life in the strike. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is facing criticism from some members of his right-wing coalition for offering the apology.
According to one individual who recently spoke with President Trump, the U.S. leader had urged Netanyahu to issue the apology earlier, emphasizing the value of a simple expression of regret in international diplomacy.
Before a joint press conference with Trump and Netanyahu took place, a Qatari delegation arrived at the White House on Monday to continue negotiations surrounding President Trump’s proposed plan.
