❓WHAT HAPPENED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly apologized to Qatar for bombing Doha during the Israel-Hamas conflict before he and President Donald J. Trump announced a proposed peace plan for Gaza.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and President Trump.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The apology reportedly occurred Monday at the White House during discussions on the Israel-Hamas war.
💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.” – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
🎯IMPACT: The incident strained Israel-Qatar relations and angered the Trump administration, as the U.S. operates a large military base in Qatar and considers it a regional partner.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, called the Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar on Monday from the White House to apologize for bombing Doha earlier in September.
President Donald J. Trump, hosting Netanyahu at the White House, expressed frustration over the bombing at the time. Following the September 9 bombing of Qatar‘s capital, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump: “This morning, the Trump administration was notified by the United States military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”
Leavitt added that while eliminating Hamas is a worthy goal, the location of the attack in Qatar complicated matters. Trump directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to notify Qatar of the impending strike and assured Qatari leaders that such an attack would not happen again. Trump described Qatar as a strong ally and emphasized the importance of their partnership in the peace process.
A week after the attack, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—with U.S. backing—unanimously condemned the Israeli strike. While President Trump, speaking with Netanyahu in the aftermath of the attack, urged the Israeli leader to focus on advancing peace efforts, some reports indicated the America First leader privately expressed anger over the incident. “He’s f**kng me,” Trump reportedly said to senior advisors, expressing he believed Netanyahu was undermining ceasefire negotiations.
The Israeli leader’s call to Qatar from the White House may have helped pave the way for the 20-point peace plan for Gaza which he and Trump subsequently announced. This features the removal of Hamas from Gaza’s governance, the creation of an apolitical Palestinian committee to oversee reconstruction, and the creation of a “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to supervise. It would also see the U.S. and Arab partners organize an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to deploy to Gaza and ensure its long-term security, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrawing as it establishes control.
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