Qatar has reaffirmed its commitment to mediate the Gaza conflict following an apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over an airstrike that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha earlier this month.
The announcement came after a trilateral call with US President Donald Trump, during which Netanyahu expressed regret over the death of a Qatari security officer in the 9 September attack and acknowledged that Israel had violated Qatari sovereignty.
“Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike and affirms that it will not conduct such an attack again in the future,” Netanyahu told Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, according to the White House.
⚔️ Details of the 9 September Strike
On 9 September, Israeli jets targeted a residential compound in Doha where Hamas leaders were negotiating a previous US ceasefire proposal.
- Hamas leaders survived the strike.
- Five lower-level members were killed, including the son of chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and a Qatari Internal Security Force officer.
Israel initially justified the strike as a response to Hamas attacks on Israel, including the 7 October 2023 assault that triggered the ongoing Gaza war. Qatar condemned the strike as a “criminal assault” and a violation of international law, while Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the incident.
🕊️ US-Led Peace Initiative
The call came just before Trump announced a new 20-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu and eight Arab and Muslim states, including Qatar, expressed support for the plan. Qatar, which has hosted Hamas’ political bureau since 2012, continues to act as a key mediator alongside the US and Egypt.
Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged Israel’s assurances and highlighted Qatar’s readiness to continue its diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza within the framework of Trump’s initiative.
🇮🇱 Controversy in Israel
Netanyahu’s apology drew strong criticism at home:
- Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called it a “disgrace” to apologize to a state supporting terrorism.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the strike as “just and moral.”
- Opposition leader Yair Lapid argued that Netanyahu should apologize to Israeli citizens, not Qatar.
- Democratic Party head Yair Golan called the apology a “humiliation” and criticized Qatar’s role.
⚖️ Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Toll
The Israeli military has continued its campaign in Gaza following the 7 October Hamas attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Since then, over 66,000 people have reportedly died in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
Qatar remains a central diplomatic hub, balancing its role as a US ally while hosting Hamas leadership, and continues efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and long-term resolution to the conflict.
