Whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a scripted apology to Qatar is a speculation that erupted after the White House circulated a stark black-and-white photograph showing US President Donald Trump gripping the phone while Netanyahu appeared to read carefully from a page.

Captured in the Oval Office on Monday, the image is said to depict Netanyahu's conversation with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

US officials said the call was set up at Trump's insistence during his meeting with Netanyahu. During the exchange, the Israeli leader apologised for the airstrike targeting Hamas officials in Doha.

The September 9 strike killed five people, including the son of senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Hayya. Although Trump initially denied having advance knowledge of the operation, he was reportedly enraged that Netanyahu acted unilaterally.