All members of the United Nations Security Council, including Israel’s closest allies, have condemned the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar this week and demanded for de-escalation in a joint statement.
Such a press statement requires the backing of all members, including the U.S., which has pushed back on criticism of Israel to date at the council stopping past anti-Israel statements from being released.
“The members of the Security Council expressed their condemnation of the recent strikes in Doha, the territory of a key mediator, on 9 September. They expressed deep regret at the loss of civilian life,” the statement says.
“Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar. They underlined their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, in line with the principles of the UN Charter.
“Council members recalled their support for the vital role that Qatar continues to play in mediation efforts in the region, and alongside Egypt and the United States.
“Council members underscored that releasing the hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and ending the war and suffering in Gaza must remain our top priority. In this regard, they reiterated the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., and called for the parties to seize the opportunity for peace.”
Five Hamas members were killed in the attack, but the Palestinian armed group said its leadership survived the assassination bid.
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A Qatari security member was also killed in the shock attack, which has sent tensions in the region skyrocketing. The Israeli attack on Qatar is the first time Israel has attacked a close ally of the West in the Arab Gulf representing an unprecedented escalation amid the ongoing war on Gaza.
Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting to discuss a new deal proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump when the attack happened sparking speculation that Trump may have lured the Palestinian negotiating team to a meet which he knew would have been targeted by Israel.
However, the U.S., which traditionally shields its ally Israel at the United Nations, appeared to deliver a strong rebuke to Israel, reflecting President Trump’s purported unhappiness with the attack.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea said: “Unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation working very hard and bravely taking risks alongside the United States to broker peace, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.”
Elsewhere, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, the UK’s permanent representative to the UN, said the UK stands in “full and unwavering solidarity with Qatar” and “condemns” Israel’s strikes on Doha.
“These strikes are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar. They risk both further escalation across the region and setting back negotiations for a ceasefire.
“We offer our condolences to the families and friends of Qatari personnel who were tragically killed. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and with the injured.
“Qatar has long been a tireless broker for peace in the Middle East and beyond, and we commend the resolute commitment of His Highness The Amir to champion diplomacy and dialogue.”
Furious Qatar welcomes the statement
Qatar on Friday welcomed the Security Council’s condemnation of the Israeli attack on the capital Doha, calling the strike “treacherous” and a violation of international norms.
“Qatar welcomes condemnation of Security Council of treacherous Israeli attack on Hamas delegation, which undermines the international order, as I emphasized to the Council,” said Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani in a statement on X.
He emphasised that Doha is committed to its “humanitarian and diplomatic role, and right to protect our sovereignty and security.”
The Qatari premier is scheduled to meet President Trump later on Friday, along with several top U.S. officials, to discuss the Israeli strike on Qatar and the status of talks for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been under mounting Israeli assault.
Israel has relentlessly defended its actions, attempting to justify the attack as an act of self defence.
Speaking at an event hosted by Chatham House, an international affairs think tank based in London, Herzog described his meeting with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the pair’s discussion was “frank” and “tough.”
“It was a meeting between allies, but it was a tough meeting,” he said.
Referring to members of the Gaza negotiating team Israel targeted, Herzog says the strikes were necessary to “remove some of the people if they are not willing to get a deal.”
Insisting that Israel wants an end to the war, he argues that Hamas’ decision process requires consent and that just one person saying no removes the possibility of a deal.
“If you want to move on, you have to remove some of the people if they are not willing to get that deal,” he says.
