President Donald Trump pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue a rare apology to Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani following last month’s Israeli airstrike in Doha that targeted Hamas operatives. The move, made during a joint call at the White House, signals that a broader diplomatic deal—possibly tied to ending the war in Gaza—may be in the works.
Israel carried out the September 9 strike after Hamas claimed responsibility for additional terror attacks inside Israel. While the intended targets were senior Hamas leaders living in luxury exile in Doha, the strike killed several lower-level operatives along with a Qatari security guard. The incident prompted swift anger from Qatar, which has long hosted Hamas leadership under claims of political asylum.
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu spoke with Al Thani for several minutes, with President Trump participating in the call. A foreign diplomat confirmed to the outlet that Netanyahu apologized for the deaths caused by the strike.
The unusual step underscores the complexity of Middle East diplomacy. Israel almost never apologizes for counterterror operations, particularly when Hamas leaders are involved, but such concessions are sometimes made to secure broader strategic gains. Analysts note that Qatar may have received advance warning of the strike, possibly tipping off senior Hamas officials who escaped unharmed.
The apology recalls a similar episode in 2013, when President Barack Obama pressured Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey over the deadly Mavi Marmara incident involving pro-Hamas activists. That move temporarily improved relations but ultimately did not resolve long-term tensions.
For now, Israel’s apology to Qatar suggests U.S. efforts to leverage diplomacy may be laying groundwork for a negotiated end to the Gaza conflict, while still keeping pressure on Hamas’s overseas leadership.
