Faiza Khan
WASHINGTON/DOHA/DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to his Qatari counterpart on Monday for Israel’s strike in Doha earlier this month, in a call made from the White House during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, sources confirmed.
Netanyahu spoke by phone with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, apologizing for the September 9 strike that killed a Qatari security guard and several Hamas operatives. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu pledged not to carry out further attacks on Qatari soil and indicated that compensation may be paid to the guard’s family.
Qatar had suspended its mediation role in Gaza negotiations following the attack, but diplomats said Monday’s apology could pave the way for renewed talks. Channel 12 reported that Qatar has privately signaled to Washington it could persuade Hamas to accept elements of Trump’s 21-point Gaza peace plan, including steps toward demilitarization.
UAE and Arab Pressure
The United Arab Emirates, one of the first Arab states to normalize ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, is pressing Netanyahu to accept Trump’s Gaza proposal and abandon plans to annex parts of the West Bank. A delegate familiar with the talks told Reuters that Abu Dhabi warned annexation would “shut the door” on further normalization with major Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
Protests in Tel Aviv
Meanwhile, Israelis rallied outside the U.S. embassy branch in Tel Aviv, urging Trump to press Netanyahu to sign the deal. Demonstrators chanted “Now, now” and held banners reading, “President Trump, make history. Bring them home now.”
Their calls echoed an open letter by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which urged Trump not to allow “any interference to derail this progress” and to deliver a ceasefire agreement that ensures the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Shehbaz Welcomes Plan
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also endorsed Trump’s initiative, calling the two-state solution key to lasting peace. In a statement on X, Sharif said:
“Durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel is essential for political stability and economic growth in the region. I laud President Trump’s leadership and the role of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in bringing an end to this war.”
Trump, who unveiled his Gaza plan to Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week, is seeking public support from eight regional states to secure what he has called an “imminent breakthrough.”
