NETANYAHU APOLOGISES TO QATAR OVER DEADLY STRIKE AMID HAMAS TARGETING

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologised to Qatar following Israel’s missile strike in Doha earlier this month that killed a Qatari serviceman and five Hamas members, sparking global condemnation.

The apology was conveyed on Monday during a joint call with United States President Donald Trump to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani at the White House.

A White House statement said Netanyahu “expressed his deep regret” over the September 9 strike, admitting it violated Qatar’s sovereignty while targeting Hamas leaders engaged in US-backed ceasefire talks. He pledged that Israel would not repeat such attacks on Qatari territory.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the call, describing the incident as a “blatant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar” and noting that the Israeli strike had targeted a residential area housing Hamas negotiators. The ministry said the Qatari prime minister welcomed the assurances, while emphasising Qatar’s readiness to continue contributing to regional security.

Netanyahu also posted on his official X handle, saying, “Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike. I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris. Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future.”

Despite the apology, Netanyahu cited longstanding grievances against Qatar, including its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, perceived anti-Israel narratives on Al Jazeera, and alleged backing of anti-Israel activism.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the strike as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty. Nearly 60 Muslim-majority countries convened in Doha days after the attack in a show of solidarity.

Sultan Barakat, a professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said the apology was “significant,” stressing that Qatar had conditioned its continued role as mediator on Netanyahu’s public commitment not to target Qatari territory again.

“It is important not just for the mediation between Hamas and Israel but for the whole portfolio of mediation in general,” Barakat told Al Jazeera.