Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a formal apology to Qatar following an Israeli missile strike in Doha that killed a Qatari serviceman and several Hamas members earlier this month. The apology, delivered jointly with U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House meeting on Monday, comes amid global condemnation of the unprecedented attack on Qatari soil.
The September 9 strike targeted senior Hamas figures involved in ceasefire negotiations with U.S. and Qatari officials. While top Hamas leaders survived, at least five lower-ranking operatives and one Qatari security official were killed.
According to a White House statement, Netanyahu “expressed deep regret” for the unintended death and acknowledged that the operation “violated Qatari sovereignty.” He also pledged that Israel would not carry out similar actions in the future.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the call, describing it as part of U.S. efforts to manage the fallout from what it called a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty. The incident marks the first Israeli military action within Qatar—a key U.S. ally, mediator in regional diplomacy, and host of the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military facility in the Middle East.
Analysts view the apology as a significant diplomatic gesture aimed at preserving Qatar’s role in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
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