In a significant diplomatic move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Qatar for an Israeli airstrike in Doha earlier this month The apology was delivered during a phone call to Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, directly from the White House, where Netanyahu was meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.The September 9 strike, which targeted senior Hamas leaders, was unsuccessful in hitting its primary targets but resulted in the deaths of six people, including a Qatari security officer This violation of Qatar's sovereignty prompted Doha to suspend its crucial role as a mediator in the ongoing Gaza conflict and hostage negotiations, demanding an official apology from Israel to resume its efforts.Netanyahu's apology expressed regret for the violation of Qatari sovereignty and for the unintended killing of the security guard The move is widely seen as a necessary step to bring Qatar back to the negotiating table, which is critical for the advancement of a U.S.-backed peace plan.The timing and location of the apology are no coincidence. It came during a high-stakes meeting between Netanyahu and President Trump, who is pushing a 21-point plan to end the war in Gaza.The U.S. administration, reportedly frustrated with Netanyahu's handling of the war, views the revival of talks with Qatar's involvement as essential.President Trump is pressing both sides to agree to the new framework, which aims to secure the release of remaining hostages and establish a pathway to ending the conflict.The presence of a Qatari technical team at the White House underscores the seriousness of these renewed diplomatic efforts. Netanyahu's apology, facilitated by Trump, is seen as a key concession to get all parties back on track toward a potential ceasefire.
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