Netanyahu spoke to Qatari PM on phone from White House, apologised for Doha air strike: Report | World News
Israeli Prime Miner Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. (Photo: AP)
Israeli Prime Miner Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly apologised to the Prime Miner of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, over the air strike in Doha earlier this month.
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According to Israel-based Channel 12, Netanyahu spoke to Al Thani over the phone from the White House, where he apologised for violating Qatar’s sovereignty. In the phone call that lasted several minutes, Netanyahu also reportedly expressed regret over the death of a Qatari security guard during the air strike on September 9.
Qatar insed on Netanyahu’s apology
Channel 12 and Israeli public broadcaster KAN also reported that Netanyahu’s apology was a prerequisite for Doha’s continued involvement in hostage and ceasefire negotiations, as Qatar had been refusing to mediate negotiations with Hamas since the Israeli strike.
On Monday, Sky News Arabia further reported that Qatar has informed the Trump adminration that it would be able to persuade Hamas to disarm and accept Trump’s 21-point peace plan for Gaza.
Doha air strike
Israel carried out one of the most controversial cross-border air strikes in recent times earlier this month, targeting top Hamas leaders who were meeting to discuss a peace deal proposed the US.
A damaged building after an Israeli attack, in Doha, Tuesday (Reuters Photo)
Despite the building in the Qatari capital being hit, the Israeli air strike had failed to achieve its goal as the Hamas top leadership escaped unhurt.
Initially, Israel had claimed that the operation, code-named “Summit of Fire,” was a success and Hamas leaders targeted in the strike were eliminated. But later Netanyahu claimed that the air strike had sent a message to Hamas that they are not safe anywhere.
The air strike, however, resulted in bringing the Arab countries together to denounce Israel’s actions and also led to Trump publicly rebuking Netanyahu and assuring Qatar that such actions will not be repeated. Qatar is a key ally of the US in the Middle East and is home to a US air base.
