Israeli PM Netanyahu apologises to Qatar over Doha attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologised to Qatar for the killing of a Qatari citizen during an unprecedented Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha this month, which drew global condemnation.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received the apology on Monday in a joint call from United States President Donald Trump and Netanyahu during their meeting at the White House.
“As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel’s missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman,” a White House statement said.
“He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.”
At least five lower-ranking Hamas members and a Qatari security official were killed in the September 9 attack, which targeted senior Hamas leaders involved in negotiations on a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Hamas’s top leaders survived the assassination attempt.
It was the first Israeli attack on Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire efforts and host of the US military’s largest base in the Middle East, Al Udeid.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the call “as part of US efforts to address the repercussions of the Israeli aggression that targeted a residential neighbourhood in Doha city, which included housing for the Hamas negotiating delegation, resulting in a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar”.
The ministry said Sheikh Mohammed expressed gratitude to Trump for his efforts to prevent a recurrence of aggression and secure US guarantees of Qatar’s defense partnership. Netanyahu, it added, apologised for the attack and pledged not to target Qatari territory again.
Netanyahu’s official X account quoted him as telling the Qatari prime minister: “Mr Prime Minister, I want you to know that Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike. I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris. I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to the president.”
He nevertheless reiterated grievances with Qatar’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera’s coverage, and anti-Israel sentiment on campuses.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strike in Doha as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Nearly 60 Muslim countries gathered in Doha days later to show solidarity.
The White House said Qatar’s prime minister “welcomed these assurances, emphasising Qatar’s readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed commitment to the same.”
Sultan Barakat, a professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said the apology was “significant”, adding: “Qatar has said from the beginning that it would not be able to continue mediation efforts without a public apology and a confirmation from Netanyahu that he won’t attempt to do it again. It is important not just for the mediation between Hamas and Israel but for the whole portfolio of mediation in general.”
Credit: Aljazeera
