Netanyahu Apologises to Qatar After Deadly Israeli Strike in Doha

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a rare apology to Qatar after an unprecedented Israeli strike in Doha killed a Qatari citizen alongside several Hamas members earlier this month — an attack that drew international condemnation and rattled ongoing mediation efforts.

The apology came during a joint call with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Monday, held 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 read. “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.”

The September 9 strike marked the first time Israel has targeted Qatari territory, hitting a residential area in Doha that housed Hamas negotiators involved in U.S.-backed ceasefire talks. Five Hamas members were killed, along with a Qatari security official, Badr Al-Dosari. Hamas’s top leadership, however, survived.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the call as part of U.S. efforts “to address the repercussions of the Israeli aggression that targeted a residential neighbourhood in Doha city … resulting in a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar.”

For its part, Qatar welcomed Netanyahu’s direct apology and assurances.

“The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his gratitude to the US President for his efforts to achieve peace … including guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression against the State of Qatar and the US commitment to its defense partnership with Qatar,” the ministry said.

Netanyahu himself added in the call:

“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.