Qatar is conditioning its continued role as a mediator in ceasefire and hostage deal talks between Israel and Hamas on a public Israeli apology for the recent strike targeting the leaders of the terror group while they were meeting in Doha, the Axios news outlet reported on Saturday.

Citing sources familiar with the talks, the news outlet reported that the demand, put forward by Qatari emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was raised during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s talks this week in Jerusalem and Doha, as well during US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting in London with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

Although Doha expects Israel to apologize if it wishes to move forward with negotiations, the sources noted that it will be willing to show some flexibility on the wording of the apology, given that the matter is politically sensitive for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s unprecedented strike on Doha on September 9 had targeted top Hamas officials while they were meeting to discuss a US-sponsored proposal for a hostage release deal and ceasefire in Gaza.

Six people, including a Qatari officer, were killed in the strike, but all of the terror group’s senior leaders were believed to have........

© The Times of Israel