Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Qatar’s prime minister on Monday for an Israeli airstrike in Doha earlier this month, a significant move aimed at restarting stalled negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release .
The apology was delivered during a three-way telephone call with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and U.S. President Donald Trump. The call took place while Netanyahu was meeting with Trump at the White House .
Netanyahu expressed his "deep regret" that the strike, which targeted Hamas leaders, unintentionally killed a Qatari security officer and violated Qatari sovereignty . He assured the Qatari leader that "Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future" . The White House stated that the Israeli leader affirmed Israel would not conduct such an attack again .
Qatar had made a public apology a central condition for resuming its role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas . The September 9 airstrike in Doha had drawn widespread international condemnation and united Arab leaders in outrage. It killed several lower-level Hamas officials but failed to eliminate the group's top leadership .
The White House said Trump "hosted" the trilateral call and hopes it will improve relations between the two key U.S. allies . A source familiar with the matter told Axios that Trump had wanted Netanyahu to apologize sooner, with the source noting, "A simple 'I'm sorry' goes a long way" .
Following the call, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the apology. It stated the call was part of U.S. efforts to address the "blatant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar" . The Qatari prime minister welcomed Israel's assurances and emphasized "Qatar’s readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability" .
A source familiar with the discussions said Israel will pay compensation to the family of the killed Qatari security officer, Badr Al-Dosari .
The strike had threatened to derail ongoing efforts to secure a deal to end the war in Gaza and free remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Qatar, which hosts the political office of Hamas, has been the principal mediator in these talks .
Professor Sultan Barakat of Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar called the apology "significant." He explained, "Qatar has said from the beginning that it would not be able to continue mediation efforts without a public apology and a confirmation from Netanyahu that he won’t attempt to do it again" .
The diplomatic gesture already faces strong criticism from members of Netanyahu’s own hard-right coalition government . Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir were among those who condemned the apology, with some labeling it a "disgrace" and a sign of weakness .
The call and Netanyahu's meeting with Trump centered on a U.S. proposal to end the Gaza war. The White House released Trump's "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict," which outlines 20 points, including that Gaza will become a "deradicalized terror-free zone" . The plan claims the war will "immediately end" and all hostages will be returned within 72 hours if both sides agree .