By Charles Pemu A recent Israeli airstrike on the Qatari capital of Doha has drawn widespread international condemnation. The attack, which targeted senior Hamas leaders, is being criticized by world leaders and international bodies as a violation of international law and a dangerous escalation of the ongoing conflict
The strike, the first of its kind in Qatar, occurred as a Hamas negotiating team was meeting to discuss a new ceasefire proposal. Qatar, a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas conflict, is also home to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken full responsibility for the operation, stating he ordered the strikes in response to a recent shooting in Jerusalem that killed six people, for which Hamas claimed responsibility. According to a joint statement from Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the attack was a “wholly independent Israeli operation.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet intelligence service released a statement confirming their involvement, asserting that the targeted Hamas leaders were directly responsible for the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. They claimed steps were taken to “minimize harm to uninvolved people.” Reports indicate that while the Hamas leadership survived, a son of one of the leaders was killed.
The attack has been met with a torrent of criticism from around the world:
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strike a “flagrant violation of sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Qatar,” urging all parties to work towards a permanent ceasefire.
- Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director General of Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, stated the attack has “widened the frontiers of the crisis,” posing a grave danger to the international system.
- Dr. Olalekan Babatunde, also from the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, described it as a “serious attack on international law” that will “further erode stability in the region.”
- Ambassador Sulaiman Dahiru, a career diplomat, labeled Israel a “lawless country,” predicting the action will alienate it from Arab nations.
- Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al Ansari strongly condemned the “cowardly Israeli attack,” calling it a “blatant violation of all international laws and norms.”
- Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the Maldives, Turkey, the UAE, Lebanon, and Iran also issued strong condemnations, with some describing Israel’s actions as “reckless,” “genocidal,” and a deliberate attempt to undermine peace efforts.
- French President Emmanuel Macron and the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed concerns, warning against further escalation and highlighting the independent nature of the Israeli operation.
The Israeli-Hamas war, which began in October 2023, has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 66,700 reported deaths in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and over 1,000 on the Israeli side. The recent attack on Doha adds a new and volatile dimension to this already devastating conflict.