Qatar PM condemns Israeli strike on Doha, warns attack sabotages Gaza peace efforts
Sheikh Mohammed tells UN Security Council Israel violated sovereignty, targeted negotiators during ceasefire talks
NEW YORK, US (MNTV) — Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani sharply criticized Israel at the United Nations Security Council, blaming it of deliberately striking a diplomatic compound in Doha to derail ceasefire negotiations.
The September 9 airstrike killed several people, including a Qatari security officer, and targeted Hamas negotiators engaged in talks over a US-backed proposal, according to Arab news sources.
“This was no accident,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “It was a targeted attempt to sabotage diplomacy, perpetuate suffering, and silence voices seeking peace.”
He called the attack a “criminal assault” and a “violation of Qatar’s sovereignty,” warning that it undermines international mediation efforts for Gaza.
The UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, delivering remarks on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, described the strike as “an alarming escalation” and “a direct violation of Qatar’s territorial integrity.”
She cautioned that undermining mediation efforts risks “opening a new and perilous chapter” in the conflict.
Israel claimed responsibility, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the operation was carried out independently in response to a Hamas-claimed attack in Jerusalem. Hamas confirmed that the son of senior negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya was among the dead.
The UK strongly condemned the strike, calling it a breach of sovereignty that threatens ceasefire efforts.
Ambassador Barbara Woodward praised Qatar’s commitment to mediation while criticizing Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza, urging both restraint and increased humanitarian access.
The US expressed condolences to Qatar but defended Israel’s security concerns. Acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea described Doha as “a sovereign nation bravely taking risks to broker peace” but urged council members not to question Israel’s motives.
She said President Donald Trump viewed the crisis as “an opportunity for peace” after speaking with both Netanyahu and Qatar’s Emir.
Sheikh Mohammed, however, accused Israel of exposing its “true intentions” and warned that silence from the international community would legitimize violations of sovereignty.
Drawing comparisons to US-Taliban negotiations once hosted in Doha, he asked: “Why is Israel trying to destroy the very possibility of a negotiated peace?”
Qatar pledged to continue mediation with Egypt and the US, citing its role in securing the release of 148 hostages and facilitating aid. “This attack is not only on Qatar — it is on every country striving for peace,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “We reserve the right to respond within the framework of international law.”
Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon rejected Qatar’s criticism, accusing it of harboring Hamas. He likened the strike to the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, arguing: “There was no immunity for bin Laden, and there can be no immunity for Hamas.”
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