Netanyahu Tells Qatari PM Israel Regrets Civilian Death, Not the Strike Itself

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani that Israel “regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike,” according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The message, conveyed during Netanyahu’s meeting at the White House, did not include an apology for the assassination attempt itself. Instead, Netanyahu expressed regret over the death of a Qatari national caught in the strike, saying the intended target was Hamas.

“Mr. Prime Minister, I want you to know that Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike,” Netanyahu said, according to the official text. “I want to assure you that Hamas was the target, not the Qataris. I also want to assure you that Israel has no intention of violating your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to President Trump.”

Netanyahu added that while both nations have longstanding grievances, he supports President Trump’s proposal to create a trilateral group to address the concerns of both sides.

“I know that your leadership has complaints against Israel, and that Israel has complaints against Qatar — from support for the Muslim Brotherhood, to the way Israel is portrayed on Al Jazeera, and to support for anti-Israel positions on campuses,” Netanyahu said. “I welcome the president’s idea to establish a trilateral group that will address the complaints of both our countries.”