Netanyahu apologises to Qatar over airstrike

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally apologised to Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani over an airstrike in Qatar. He also pledged that no further strikes would be carried out in the country.

The White House said in a statement on Monday that Netanyahu spoke by phone with the Qatari Prime Minister in the presence of US President Donald Trump. During the call, Netanyahu expressed regret over the death of a Qatari security officer and the violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.

According to the White House statement, Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow at the killing of the officer in Doha during the operation targeting Hamas. He acknowledged that Israel had infringed on Qatar’s sovereignty by conducting the strike.

Prime Minister Al Thani welcomed Netanyahu’s apology, saying Qatar would continue to play a meaningful role in ensuring regional security and stability.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the phone call.

On October 9, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) carried out an airstrike on a residential building in Doha, where senior Hamas leaders, including Gaza’s top figure Khalil al-Hayya, were holding ceasefire talks. Six people were killed, including a Qatari security officer, though no senior Hamas leaders were harmed.