Netanyahu apologises to Qatari PM for Doha attack in call from White House: Report

Netanyahu, who is being hosted at the White House by US President Donald Trump, spoke to Al Thani over a phone call for several minutes, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.

Netanyahu reportedly apologised to Al Thani for violating Qatar’s sovereignty in the September 9 strike on Doha, expressing regret over the killing of a Qatari security guard in the attack.

The apology gains significance against the backdrop of Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump amid the ongoing effort to finalise a peace deal to end the war in Gaza and release the hostages held by Hamas.

Since the Israeli strike, Qatar had been refusing to mediate negotiations with Hamas.

Meanwhile, a Qatari technical team is also present at the White House, Reuters reported, citing a source briefed on the talks between the US President and Israeli PM.

Israeli strikes on Doha

Earlier this month, Israel struck the headquarters of Hamas leadership in Qatar’s Doha, killing six people, including senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya.

Al-Hayya had led Hamas’s delegations in the mediation talks with Israel to try to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal that would also include an exchange of Israelis abducted by Hamas for Palestinians in Israeli jails.

The Qatari capital has been a key site for Hamas leadership. Since October 2023, after several requests from the US government, Doha had opened the channel of communication between Hamas and Israel.

Israel’s strike on the capital came as a Hamas delegation arrived in Doha to examine the latest peace proposal pushed by the US and the Trump administration’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.