Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally apologized to Qatar over an airstrike that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, killing a Qatari security officer and five lower-level Hamas members. The apology comes amid ongoing US-led efforts to mediate peace in the Gaza conflict.
During a trilateral phone call with US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu expressed regret for violating Qatari sovereignty and pledged that Israel would not carry out such strikes again. The incident occurred on 9 September, when Israeli jets targeted a residential compound in Doha where Hamas officials were negotiating a US ceasefire proposal.
“Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike and affirms it will not conduct such an attack again in the future,” Netanyahu told Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, according to the White House.
Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ political bureau and has acted as a mediator alongside the US and Egypt since 2012, welcomed the apology and reaffirmed its readiness to continue diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized Qatar’s commitment to working within the framework of the US president’s proposed peace plan.
The apology, however, sparked backlash in Israel, particularly from far-right ministers and opposition leaders. Critics described the move as humiliating and questioned Qatar’s role as a state allegedly supporting terrorism.
The airstrike initially targeted Hamas leaders responsible for the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly killed over 66,000 people, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
As the conflict continues, Qatar remains a key diplomatic intermediary, balancing its US alliance with hosting Hamas leadership, aiming to facilitate a ceasefire and a long-term resolution to the conflict.
