Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued an apology to Qatar following a deadly Israeli attack in Doha that resulted in six casualties, including members of Hamas and a Qatari security official. The apology was conveyed during a phone conversation from the White House to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. This discussion occurred while Netanyahu was in Washington meeting with US President Donald Trump, who is working on a peace plan for Gaza, with Netanyahu expressing his regret for the unintended killing of a Qatari serviceman in the missile strike targeting Hamas in Qatar. Netanyahu also acknowledged that Israel had violated Qatari sovereignty during the attack and assured that such actions would not be repeated in the future.
It is unclear whether there was pressure from the US president for Netanyahu to apologize, as reported by the Express US. This apology marks a significant change in stance from Netanyahu, who previously justified the attack on Qatar as being associated with Hamas. Qatar condemned the strike as a violation of international laws, and Israel had provided prior warning of the attack. While top Hamas commanders escaped, five junior operatives were eliminated. Trump and Netanyahu are meeting amidst global pressure to end the long-standing conflict in Gaza, but Netanyahu remains steadfast in his goal to defeat Hamas completely.
According to sources, Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war includes an immediate ceasefire, the release of captives within 48 hours, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territories. The war was initiated by Hamas, resulting in casualties and hostages, with demands for Israel to end the conflict and withdraw from Gaza. The ongoing military operations in Gaza have raised concerns about the humanitarian situation, with claims of high Palestinian casualties and accusations of genocide. International allies of Israel, such as Britain, France, Canada, and Australia, recently recognized Palestinian statehood, further complicating the regional dynamics.