By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani over an attack on Doha he authorized earlier this month, the White House said Monday.
The mea culpa was offered during a trilateral telephone call with US President Donald Trump on the line as he hosted the Israeli leader at the White House.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel’s missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman," the White House said in an exceptionally rare formal readout of the call.
"He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future," it added.
Al Thani, the statement said, "welcomed these assurances, emphasizing Qatar’s readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed commitment to the same."
Israel attempted to assassinate the leadership of Palestinian group Hamas in Qatar during a series of strikes on the capital Doha on Sept. 9. Hamas announced that its delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, survived, but that al-Hayya’s chief of staff, Jihad Lebed, his son Hammam al-Hayya, and three aides were killed.
A member of Qatar's internal security force was also killed.
The White House said the leaders agreed to a proposal put forward by Trump to establish a "trilateral mechanism to enhance coordination, improve communication, resolve mutual grievances, and strengthen collective efforts to prevent threats."
It said Trump "expressed his desire to put Israeli-Qatar relations on a positive track after years of mutual grievances and miscommunications."
"President Trump praised both leaders for their willingness to take steps toward greater cooperation in the interest of peace and security for all," the White House added.