Israeli PM’s office rejects report claiming Qatari leader’s ally helped US write Netanyahu’s apology | World News - The Indian Express skip to contentAdvertisementNetanyahu apologised to the Qatari Prime Minister for the airstrike and expressed regret over the death of a Qatari Security personnel in the attack. By: Express Web Desk October 8, 2025 11:10 PM IST First published on: Oct 8, 2025 at 11:09 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookTrump hosted Benjamin in the White House on September 29. (Photo: The White House)The Israeli Prime Minister’s office has denied a US media report that the White House, with input from a close ally of the Qatari Prime Minister, wrote Benjamin Netanyahu’s apology over the air strike in Doha.“This is fake news. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks in his conversation with the Qatari Prime Minister were determined by the Prime Minister himself, in consultation only with his professional team,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Wednesday.Qatari PM’s ally was in White HouseEarlier, Politico had also reported that “a powerful Qatari interlocutor and close ally of the country’s prime minister” was in the Oval Office with Trump and Netanyahu to make sure the Israeli leader stayed on script.Trump had denounced the Israeli airstrike on Doha. (Photo: Reuters)The clarification from Netanyahu’s office, however, acknowledged that the said Qatari official was present in the White House.“As for the Qatari official — he was present only during the call at the invitation of the American team, and there was no contact whatsoever with the Israeli team,” the statement said.Netanyahu’s apology to Qatar PMTrump hosted Benjamin in the White House on September 29, where he initiated a trilateral phone call, which also involved Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar. Netanyahu apologised to the Qatari Prime Minister for the airstrike and expressed regret over the death of a Qatari Security personnel in the attack. After the White House meeting, the US President announced his 20-point Gaza peace plan which has been accepted by all sides.Qatar is a key US ally and has played a key role in ending the ongoing war in Gaza. (Photo: AP)Israeli airstrike in DohaIsrael had carried out an airstrike in the Qatari capital Doha on September 9, targeting Hamas leaders, as they were meeting to discuss a peace deal proposed by Trump.Despite the surprise attack, Israel failed to achieve its goal as the top Hamas leadership escaped unhurt.However, the backlash was quick as countries around the world quickly condemned the attack. The airstrike was also denounced by the US and Trump himself reassured Qatar that such an attack won’t happen again.Most ReadIsrael had initially tried to claim victory, saying the country managed to send a message to Hamas that they won’t be safe anywhere. But after Qatar backed out of the Gaza mediation efforts, Trump forced Netanyahu to speak to his Qatari counterpart from the White House.It was reported that Qatar had set an apology from Netanyahu as a precondition to resume the stalled peace efforts.After Israel and Hamas accepted Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Qatar is playing a major role in the negotiations, which are currently underway in Egypt.AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...SubscribeSign InJournalism of CourageTop CategoriesLATEST STORIESWomen’s World Cup, IND vs SA: Why there is a buzz around Sree Charani in VizagCristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire, says report‘Can’t be illegal’: Court refuses to restrain AAP’s Somnath Bharti from representing wife in defamation case against SitharamanChen Long, the affable Chinese badminton legend now moulding the Next Gen at BWF Junior World Championships in GuwahatiThree-language-policy committee begins gathering public opinion on the topic, releases questionnairesNMIA inauguration ‘dream come true’ for Maharashtra, PM expedited project: CM FadnavisPMC health services after 76 fall sick due to water-borne diseases in Bavdhan Budhruk‘We used to have music mehfils in the house; used to start at 9 at night and go on till 7 in the morning’: Shankar Mahadevan opens the doors to his beautiful holiday homeMastermind of Rs 4-crore fraud arrested from MohaliSohrabuddin encounter: CBI ‘accepts’ 2018 special court order, ‘won’t appeal acquittal of 22 persons’ Students, universities should not trust middlemen says Symbiosis Pro Chancellor after CBI files case against fake PMO official seeking admissionIndia vs Singapore: Can new coach Khalid Jamil pass his first big test?One dead after chemical tanker collides with LPG truck on Jaipur-Ajmer highwayKataria inaugurates five new Sampark Centres in Chandigarh Delhi HC seeks Centre’s response in PIL on protection of transgender women, children under rape lawFrom Raj Kapoor to Lata Mangeshkar : How this Pune man has preserved 112 years of Indian cinema on stamps