Netanyahu Apologizes to Qatar Over Doha Attack
The Israeli Prime Minister pledged, during a phone call with his Qatari counterpart in the presence of Donald Trump, not to repeat the attack.
The White House said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his regrets to his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, over the attack on Doha earlier this month, vowing that it would not happen again.
The admission came during a three-way call between the Qatari Prime Minister, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Netanyahu while the latter was visiting Washington.
In a statement, the White House said that “Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that the Israeli missile strike on Hamas targets in Doha had inadvertently killed a Qatari soldier.” The Israeli Prime Minister acknowledged that the attacks had “violated Qatari sovereignty.”
The statement added that “Netanyahu assured Qatar that Israel would not launch another attack like the one carried out on September 9.”
Following the attack, Qatar’s Interior Ministry confirmed the death of a Qatari national, while Hamas announced that its negotiating delegation, led in Gaza by Khalil al-Hayya, had survived an assassination attempt. However, his chief of staff Jihad Labad, his son Hummam al-Hayya, and three aides were killed.
The Qatari Prime Minister welcomed Netanyahu’s assurances, stressing that Qatar remained ready to contribute effectively to regional security and stability.
According to the White House, both leaders agreed to Trump’s proposal to establish a “tripartite mechanism (Washington–Doha–Tel Aviv)” aimed at enhancing coordination, improving communication, resolving disputes, and strengthening collective efforts to counter threats.
President Trump expressed his desire to “put Israeli-Qatari relations back on a positive track after years of disputes and mutual misunderstandings.”
Shortly afterward, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Israel had officially apologized for the Doha attack, with Netanyahu pledging not to repeat violations of Qatari sovereignty.
The Qatari ministry welcomed these assurances while reiterating “its categorical rejection of any infringement on Qatar’s sovereignty under any circumstances.” It also reaffirmed Doha’s readiness to continue engaging in efforts to end the war in Gaza within the framework of President Trump’s initiative.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Broadcasting Authority revealed that the Israeli government had agreed to compensate the family of the Qatari guard killed.
Qatar had suspended its mediation in ceasefire negotiations following the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, stressing that it reserved the right to respond.
On September 23, Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accused Netanyahu, in his speech before the UN General Assembly, of seeking to undermine ceasefire negotiations through the attack on Doha. He described Israel as a “rogue state,” warning that the weakening of the international system in the face of raw power “paves the way for the rule of the jungle.”
The Israeli assault on Qatari sovereignty drew strong Arab and international condemnations, along with calls to restrain Tel Aviv and end its violations of international law.
