WASHINGTON: Netanyahu on Monday apologized to Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for a military strike targeting Hamas officials in the emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare condemnation by the US of Israel, according to two people, including a diplomatic official, familiar with the matter. Netanyahu called al Thani to extend the apology during his White House meeting on Monday with President Donald Trump. The people familiar spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. President Donald Trump was hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for critical talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and developing a US plan on post-war governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory. The White House talks between Netanyahu and Trump come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahu&rsquo;s governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience. The question now is whether Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict. As he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House, Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would be soon reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas. &ldquo;I am. I&#39;m very confident,&rdquo; Trump said. White House urges Israel and Hamas to get to a ceasefire and hostage release deal Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalize an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year old war in Gaza. &ldquo;Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy,&rdquo; Leavitt told reporters. &ldquo;But we need this conflict to end.&rdquo; Trump and Netanyahu are first holding talks with aides in the Oval Office and over a private lunch. A joint press conference is expected later. Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said Palestinian officials stood ready to work with Trump and Arab countries in bringing an end to the war. &ldquo;Let us not delay a single minute more in doing what is necessary for this just peace to replace the unbearable reality of today,&rdquo; Mansour said during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East. Trump growing more frustrated with conflict Trump joined forces with Netanyahu during Israel&#39;s brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he&#39;s supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a &ldquo;witch hunt.&rdquo; But the relationship has become more tense lately. Trump was frustrated by Israel&#39;s failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar, a&nbsp;US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza. Last week, Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank &mdash; an idea promoted by some of Netanyahu&#39;s hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution. On Friday, Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Netanyahu, telling reporters the US was &ldquo;very close to a deal on Gaza.&rdquo; Trump made finding quick ends to the Gaza war, as well as Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine, a central plank of his successful 2024 presidential campaign. He&#39;s struggled mightily on both fronts. Proposal does not include expulsion of Palestinians Trump&rsquo;s proposal to stop the war in Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not been formally unveiled. Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. The militant group has demanded Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire. Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It doesn&rsquo;t include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year. The 21-point proposal also calls for an end to Hamas rule of Gaza and the disarmament of the militant group, said the officials briefed on the plan. Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal. The plan also includes the establishment of an international security force to take over law enforcement in postwar Gaza, they said. A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority, they said. Netanyahu has rejected any role for the authority, the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinians, in postwar Gaza. A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Israel has lost much of the world&#39;s goodwill Apart from the US leadership, Israel has lost much of the international goodwill it once could count on. At a special session of the UN Security Council last week, nation after nation expressed horror at the 2023 attack by Hamas militants that killed about 1,200 people in Israel, saw 251 taken hostage and triggered the war. Then many of the representatives went on to criticize the response by Israel and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and influx of aid. Israel&rsquo;s sweeping offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the UN and many independent experts. The fighting has displaced 90% of the Gaza population, with an increasing number now starving. In recent weeks, 28 Western-aligned countries that circled behind Israel two years ago have called on it to end the offensive in Gaza. They also criticized Israel&rsquo;s restrictions on humanitarian aid, which have contributed to famine in parts of Gaza. Ten countries &mdash; including Britain, France, Canada and Australia &mdash; recognized Palestinian statehood last week, hoping to revive the long-moribund peace process. Several Arab states, including some with longstanding relations with Israel, have accused it of committing genocide in Gaza, as have leading genocide scholars, U.N. experts and some Israeli and international rights groups. The UN&rsquo;s highest court is weighing genocide allegations raised by South Africa that Israel vehemently denies

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the West Wing of the White House, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

Middle East

Asia

Netanyahu apologized to Qatar for strikes targeting Hamas during a meeting with Trump on Gaza peace talks amid growing US pressure. Trump has proposed a ceasefire, hostage release, and postwar governance plan for Gaza.

Netanyahu apologizes to Qatar PM for strike in Trump-led call

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed US President Donald Trump&#39;s plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza on Monday, while lauding his leadership efforts. In a <a href="https://x.com/cmshehbaz/status/1972670954229698744?s=46&t=SApcAZAv0zK56lMSgiF_fg" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">post</a> on X (formerly Twitter), the Pakistani PM welcomed Trump&rsquo;s plan to end the Gaza war, stating that lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis was vital for stability in the region. &ldquo;I welcome President Trump&rsquo;s plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza. I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region.&rdquo; <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/827dfea4-ae42-4c3b-9b75-6bb7cbf934fe-pm tweet.png" alt="pm tweet.png" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure> Sharif said that it was his &ldquo;firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding to&nbsp;become a reality.&rdquo; He&nbsp;said the two-state proposal was necessary for lasting peace: &ldquo;I also strongly believe that the implementation of the two-state proposal is essential to ensure lasting peace in the region.&rdquo; Trump-Netanyahu meeting&nbsp; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with Donald Trump in Washington on Monday amid increasing international pressure and isolation. While Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is destroyed, Trump&rsquo;s plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages within 48 hours, gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and disarmament of Hamas. The plan includes establishment of an international security force and a Palestinian technocratic committee initially governing Gaza civilian affairs, with eventual transfer to a reformed Palestinian Authority&mdash;though Netanyahu rejects the Palestinian Authority&rsquo;s role in Gaza postwar. Despite Netanyahu&rsquo;s praise of Trump&rsquo;s support, Israel and some Arab states expressed reservations, seeking revisions. Concerns include the involvement of Palestinian security forces, the fate of Hamas officials, and guarantees that Israel will uphold any agreements. Hamas has rejected disarmament and conditions tied to ending the war. The White House has urged both Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release deal, with Trump declaring on social media that &ldquo;We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST... WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!&rdquo; AFP reported Monday that Trump said he was &quot;very confident&quot; of a Gaza deal, telling reporters, &quot;I am, I&#39;m very confident,&quot; when asked about peace prospects. When asked if all parties supported his plan, he repeated, &quot;very confident.&quot; Israel&rsquo;s War on Gaza Israel&rsquo;s war on Gaza has killed over 66,000 Palestinians and displaced more than 90% of Gaza&rsquo;s population, with devastating shortages of food, water, and medical supplies due to an ongoing siege. The UN and numerous countries have called for immediate humanitarian access and ceasefire amid growing famine and civilian suffering. The conflict&rsquo;s toll and Israel&rsquo;s response have eroded its international support, with 28 Western-aligned countries urging an end to the offensive, and ten countries recently recognizing Palestinian statehood. Several Arab states and international experts accuse Israel of committing genocide, a charge Israel vehemently denies and the issue is under review by the UN&rsquo;s highest court. UN report finds Israel responsible for Gaza genocide On September 16, 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) issued its third report on the Israeli war on Gaza, recognizing for the first time that genocide has been committed and continues against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The report demanded Israel immediately implement a &ldquo;complete and permanent&rdquo; ceasefire and ensure unfettered humanitarian access. The COI&rsquo;s investigation, spanning October 2023 to July 2025, found Israel responsible for four of the five acts constituting genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention, including killing members of the group, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting destructive living conditions, and imposing measures to prevent births within the group. Specific evidence cited included attacks on civilians and healthcare facilities, torture and sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, destruction of maternity and fertility clinics, attacks on agricultural land, cultural sites, and widespread displacement of Gaza&rsquo;s population. The report concluded these acts were committed with clear genocidal intent, based on statements and actions by Israeli authorities. With input by Associated Press (AP) and Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif meets with the United States President Donald Trump in the White House on September 26, 2025. (Prime Minister's Office)

Americas

Pakistan’s PM welcomed Trump’s Gaza peace plan and called for a lasting two-state solution ahead of Israeli PM Netanyahu and Trump’s meeting to discuss Gaza's ceasefire, future governance, and hostage release.

Pakistan welcomes Trump’s Gaza peace plan, lauds his leadership efforts

GAZA CITY: Hamas said a mass walkout of delegations before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s speech at the United Nations on Friday showed Israel&#39;s &quot;isolation&quot; as a result of the Gaza war. &quot;Boycotting Netanyahu&#39;s speech is one manifestation of Israel&#39;s isolation and the consequences of the war of extermination,&quot; Taher al-Nunu, the media adviser to the head of Hamas&#39;s political bureau, said in a statement.

Hamas says walkouts before Netanyahu UN speech show Israel 'isolation'

ISLAMABAD: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a mass walkout at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday as he delivered a combative defense of Israel&rsquo;s war in Gaza, laced with Islamophobic remarks, attacks on Western states recognizing Palestine, and warnings against Iran.&nbsp;Netanyahu addressed a largely empty hall after dozens of delegations walked out in protest over Israel&rsquo;s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 65,500 people, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities. His speech was broadcast along the Israel-Gaza border via loudspeakers mounted on trucks as part of an official campaign to project his message inside Gaza.&nbsp;Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, lashed out at France, Britain, Australia, and Canada for recognizing a Palestinian state. He compared the move to &ldquo;murdering Jews,&rdquo; accusing these governments of &ldquo;rewarding terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that establishing a Palestinian state near Jerusalem would be like &ldquo;giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11,&rdquo; dismissing the idea as &ldquo;sheer madness.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iran as &ldquo;terror axis&rdquo;Holding up a map labeled &ldquo;The Curse,&rdquo; Netanyahu described Iran as the hub of a &ldquo;terror axis&rdquo; threatening &ldquo;the peace of the entire world&rdquo; and Israel&rsquo;s existence. He cited Israel&rsquo;s strikes on Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas, and even took credit for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.<figure class="fr-media"> </figure><figure class="fr-media"> </figure><figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/57ed6d92-3fb6-4da1-a741-800c2b8d648b-netnayhua.png" alt="The Israeli PM started off his speech by pulling out a map with the words “The Curse” written on it. He declared Iran as a hub “terror axis” that threatens the “peace of entire world”, “the stability of [Middle East]”, and “the very existence of my countr" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">The Israeli PM started off his speech by pulling out a map with the words &ldquo;The Curse&rdquo; written on it. He declared Iran as a hub &ldquo;terror axis&rdquo; that threatens the &ldquo;peace of entire world&rdquo;, &ldquo;the stability of [Middle East]&rdquo;, and &ldquo;the very existence of my country, Israel&rdquo;.</figcaption></figure>Iran&rsquo;s foreign ministry denounced the speech as &ldquo;Islamophobic propaganda&rdquo; aimed at justifying &ldquo;genocide in Gaza&rdquo; and condemned what it called Israel&rsquo;s attempts to distract from its war crimes.&nbsp;Rejection of genocideResponding to genocide accusations, Netanyahu claimed Israel takes unprecedented measures to protect civilians, saying, &ldquo;For Israel, every civilian casualty is a tragedy. For Hamas, it is a victory.&rdquo;&nbsp;He accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields but rejected responsibility for Gaza&rsquo;s humanitarian catastrophe, which UN agencies warn has pushed the enclave to the brink of famine.&nbsp;Hamas responseHamas welcomed the mass boycott, saying it underscored Israel&rsquo;s deepening isolation. &ldquo;Boycotting Netanyahu&rsquo;s speech is one manifestation of Israel&rsquo;s isolation and the consequences of the war of extermination,&rdquo; said Taher al-Nunu, media adviser to Hamas political bureau.&nbsp;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/67780db5-3782-4c05-bfbc-39927ba3c9bf-6283817018288264.jpg" alt="6283817018288264.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">People walk out of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 26, 2025 in New York City. (AFP)</figcaption></figure>Netanyahu also dismissed the Palestinian Authority as &ldquo;corrupt to the core,&rdquo; accusing it of incentivizing violence against Israelis. He argued the PA was no different from Hamas in opposing Israel&rsquo;s existence.&nbsp;Hostages and US supportSpeaking directly to families of hostages still held in Gaza, Netanyahu vowed they would not be forgotten: &ldquo;We will not rest until we bring all of you home.&rdquo; He praised US President Donald Trump for supporting Israel and urged the UN Security Council to reinstate sanctions against Iran to prevent it from rebuilding its nuclear program.&nbsp;Rejection of ceasefireThe Israeli leader rejected international appeals for a ceasefire as &ldquo;empty posturing,&rdquo; insisting that many governments privately thank Israel for countering terrorism. He described Israel&rsquo;s post-October 7 response as &ldquo;one of the most stunning in history,&rdquo; though fighting continues.&nbsp;Despite ruling out Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu signaled openness to peace with Lebanon and Syria through direct talks. He suggested that defeating Hamas could clear the way for broader normalization with Arab and Muslim-majority states, but warned Western leaders against &ldquo;shoving a terror state down our throats.&rdquo;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2025. REUTERSKylie Cooper

Israeli PM opens his address in front of a largely empty hall, as several delegations staged a walkout in protest against the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s UNGA speech triggers walkout amid Gaza war protests

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Israel widened its ground operation in Gaza City on Tuesday, pressing further into the heart of the blockaded enclave as the humanitarian crisis worsens and international criticism mounts.&nbsp;Israel claims its expanded military offensive seeks to dismantle Hamas&rsquo;s control over Gaza City and secure the release of hostages, despite the enclave being heavily devastated by its forces since October 2023. US confirms support for Israel&nbsp;U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is on a diplomatic trip to Israel,&nbsp;confirmed broad American support for the Israeli offensive.&nbsp;He also warned that diplomatic efforts have a &ldquo;narrow&rdquo; timeframe. Rubio, following talks with Netanyahu,&nbsp;stated openly that the conflict will only conclude with Hamas&rsquo;s &lsquo;elimination&rsquo; and the release of all hostages. Hamas, in contrast, demands prisoner releases, a lasting ceasefire, and Israeli withdrawal before considering hostage negotiations. Latest Israeli offensive against Gaza&nbsp;Palestinian residents reported heavy bombardment across Gaza City. One strike destroyed a house in the west, killing at least five Palestinians, including two children, according to a local hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another attack damaged three houses in the southwest, with medics searching for survivors amid the rubble. A Gaza resident described it as a &ldquo;heavy night.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that ending the conflict required eliminating Hamas and securing the release of the remaining 48 hostages. About 20 are believed to be still alive. He rejected calls for an interim ceasefire.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Hamas demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before freeing hostages.&nbsp;More than 64,871 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, have been killed, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry. Israel laid siege to the blockaded enclave in October 2023. Israel launches expanded operation in Gaza&nbsp;The Israeli military announced Tuesday it expanded operation in Gaza aimed at destroying allegedly Hamas&rsquo; military &lsquo;infrastructure&rsquo; has officially begun.&nbsp;Residents have been urged to move south, although overcrowding and lack of transportation make evacuation difficult for many.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Israeli Defense Minister said the occupying forces would continue their mission until Hamas was &lsquo;defeated&rsquo; and hostages<a id="_anchor_1" href="#_msocom_1" name="_msoanchor_1" style="font-size: 18px; color: rgb(0, 115, 230);"></a> were &lsquo;freed&rsquo;.Rubio, who is departing Israel for Qatar, said that a prolonged war is worse, and the goal remains a negotiated settlement with Hamas defeated. Over 220,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza after Israeli warnings, but many remain in the overcrowded south. Families of hostages held by Hamas gathered outside Netanyahu&rsquo;s residence, pleading for a halt to the operation to protect their loved ones. Both Netanyahu and Rubio insist the conflict will only end with Hamas&rsquo; elimination and hostage release, rejecting calls for an interim ceasefire. Hamas demands the release of Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before freeing the hostages.

 FILE - Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli airstrike on a high-rise building in Gaza City, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, after the Israeli army issued a warning. (AP PhotoYousef Al Zanoun, File) 

While the Israeli military has not confirmed if the offensive has officially begun, the U.S. State Secretary indicated the operation may have already started. 

Ground offensive to occupy Gaza begins

ISLAMABAD: U.S. President Donald Trump had a heated phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his military targeted Hamas inside Qatar, international media reported Thursday.&nbsp;In a phone call on Tuesday, the American president told Netanyahu that the decision to strike inside the U.S. ally&#39;s territory was not wise, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing senior administration officials.&nbsp;The Israeli prime minister responded by saying he had a brief window to launch the airstrike and took the opportunity, according to the newspaper.&nbsp;Anger over Israeli strikes on QatarA second call between the two leaders later that day was cordial, with Trump asking Netanyahu if the attack had been successful, the publication added.&nbsp;Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of the Islamist group Hamas with the attack in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday.&nbsp;Hamas has said its top leaders survived the airstrike, but five members were killed, including the son of its exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator Khalil al Hayya.&nbsp;The Israeli military operation in Doha has been widely condemned internationally and was particularly sensitive as Qatar has been hosting and mediating in negotiations which are trying to bring about a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.&nbsp;&quot;Expel Hamas,&quot; Netanyahu demandsOn Wednesday, Netanyahu warned Qatar to either expel Hamas officials or &quot;bring them to justice. Because if you don&#39;t, we will&quot;.&nbsp;Qatar has hit back at him, saying his comments about the Gulf nation hosting a Hamas office were &quot;reckless&quot;.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, has said that if Israel failed to kill Hamas leaders on Tuesday, it would succeed next time.&nbsp;&quot;We have put terrorists on notice, wherever they may be... we&#39;re going to pursue them, and we&#39;re going to destroy those who will destroy us,&quot; he said. PM Shehbaz departs on solidarity visit to QatarIn a separate development, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed on a day-long visit to Qatar on Thursday, in a gesture of solidarity and regional unity following the recent Israeli airstrikes that targeted residential areas in Doha, the Foreign Office said. During the visit, the prime minister is scheduled to meet with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to convey Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;deepest sympathies and support&rdquo; for the Qatari leadership and people, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.&nbsp;&ldquo;The visit underscores Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering support for the security and sovereignty of Qatar, and its continued commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East,&rdquo; the statement added.

Trump rebuked Netanyahu over Israel's airstrike in Qatar; global leaders condemn the strike as a violation of sovereignty and threat to regional peace.

Articles tagged with "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu"

Netanyahu apologizes to Qatar PM for strike in Trump-led call

Pakistan welcomes Trump’s Gaza peace plan, lauds his leadership efforts

Hamas says walkouts before Netanyahu UN speech show Israel 'isolation'

Netanyahu’s UNGA speech triggers walkout amid Gaza war protests

Ground offensive to occupy Gaza begins

Trump 'rebukes' Netanyahu over Qatar strike: Report

Netanyahu’s UNGA speech triggers walkout amid Gaza war protests