Israeli PM apologizes to Qatar for deadly airstrike; Qatar reaffirms mediation role

JERUSALEM/DOHA -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Qatar on Monday for a recent airstrike in Doha, a rare concession seen as crucial for the Gulf state to continue its key mediation role in the Gaza conflict.

The apology came during a trilateral phone call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and US President Donald Trump. According to a statement from Qatar's Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu expressed regret over the incident and pledged that such an event would not recur.

Al Thani strongly condemned the strike, emphasizing that the protection of Qatari citizens and residents was "an absolute priority" and reaffirming Qatar's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement also underscored Qatar's continued commitment to mediating an end to the Gaza war.

On Sept 9, Israel carried out airstrikes on Doha, claiming they targeted senior Hamas leaders based in the city. Hamas said its delegation was in Doha at the time to discuss a US-brokered ceasefire proposal. The strikes killed five Palestinians and one Qatari security officer, drawing widespread international condemnation. The attack followed a pattern of Israel's "decapitation strikes" in the past two years against leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, Yemen's Houthis, and Iran's military.

Speaking from the United States, Netanyahu told his Qatari counterpart that Israel "had no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future," a pledge he said he also conveyed to Trump.

"I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris," he added. Netanyahu also endorsed Trump's proposal for a trilateral mechanism with Qatar to address outstanding disputes.

Israeli media, including state-run Kan TV, reported that the apology was a necessary condition for Qatar to continue its mediation efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.

Just a day earlier, Netanyahu had defended the strike in a Fox News interview, saying that "any self-respecting country doesn't give a pass to terrorists." The apology drew criticism from within Israel's ultra-right coalition, with some cabinet members reportedly calling it "humiliating" and accusing Qatar of supporting Hamas.