United News of Bangladesh

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally apologised to Qatar for the killing of a Qatari citizen during an unprecedented Israeli missile strike on Hamas leaders in Doha earlier this month, which drew international condemnation. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received the apology on Monday through a joint phone call with US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu from the White House. A White House statement said, “As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel’s strike on Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman.” He further regretted that targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again, the statement included. The September 9 attack killed at least five lower-ranking Hamas members and a Qatari security official. Senior Hamas leaders involved in US-backed ceasefire negotiations survived the strike. Hamas to review Trump’s Gaza peace plan as global support builds The attack marked the first Israeli strike on Qatar, which hosts the US military’s largest base in the Middle East at Al Udeid and plays a key role as a mediator in ceasefire efforts. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the call, noting that it was part of US efforts to address the repercussions of the strike, which targeted a residential neighbourhood housing the Hamas negotiating delegation and violated Qatari sovereignty. During the call, Netanyahu apologised for the attack and the death of Qatari citizen Badr Al-Dosari, assuring that Israel would not target Qatari territory in the future. Netanyahu also acknowledged Israel’s grievances with Qatar, citing support for the Muslim Brotherhood, coverage on Al Jazeera, and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty. The attack had prompted nearly 60 Muslim countries to convene in Doha in solidarity days later. Following Netanyahu’s apology, the White House said Qatar’s prime minister welcomed the assurances and reaffirmed Qatar’s readiness to continue contributing to regional security and stability. Netanyahu committed to the same. Sultan Barakat, professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, described the apology as “significant,” noting that Qatar had insisted on a public apology and a commitment from Netanyahu to avoid future attacks as a condition for continuing mediation efforts. He added that the step was crucial not only for Israel-Hamas mediation but for preserving the broader space for diplomatic mediation in regional conflicts. Source: Agency