France, Spain and the United Kingdom condemned Israel’s airstrikes, which it said were targeting Hamas officials, in the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday (yesterday), the Israel Defense Forces announced they had “conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” with smoke seen rising over the Qatari capital.
The attack was the first time Israel carried out a strike in the Qatar, which has been mediating indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. It marks a major escalation of unrest in the Middle East.
Both British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the strikes, warning of further escalation across the region.
“The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza. This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace,” Starmer said.
“Today’s Israeli strikes on Qatar are unacceptable, whatever the reason. I express my solidarity with Qatar and its Emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani. Under no circumstances should the war spread throughout the region,” said Macron.
Spain also called for restraint and a return to diplomatic negotiations.“This attack is a violation of Qatari territorial sovereignty and a flagrant violation of international law,” the Spanish foreign ministry said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni did not explicitly condemn the attack, instead posting on X that she supported Al Thani and that Italy “remains opposed to any form of escalation that could lead to a further worsening of the crisis in the Middle East.”
A large pro-Gaza protest took place in Rome on Tuesday evening, with people turning out to highlight the plight of Palestinians subjugated by Israel and in support of the flotilla carrying aid to besieged territory. The attack on Qatar may have contributed to the large turnout.
From New York, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres echoed concerns over deepening regional instability.
“We are just learning about the Israeli attacks in Qatar, a country that has been playing a very positive role to achieve a ceasefire and the release of all hostages,” Guterres said. “I condemn this flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar. All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.”
Even the United States, a staunch ally and military backer of Israel, rebuked the Israeli government over the attack.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States, that is working very hard, and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said from the White House briefing room.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney also spoke out against Israel’s strike on the headquarters of Hamas political leaders.
“Canada condemns Israel’s strikes in Qatar — an intolerable expansion of violence and an affront to Qatar’s sovereignty.
“Regardless of their objectives, such attacks pose a grave risk of escalating conflict throughout the region, and directly imperil efforts to advance peace and security, secure the release of all hostages and achieve a lasting ceasefire,” Carney said in his statement.
“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar,” Majed Al-Ansari, adviser to the Qatari prime minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote in a post on X.
Qatar’s foreign ministry swiftly condemned the strike, calling it “a blatant violation of all international laws and norms.”
Israel has long threatened to strike Hamas leaders wherever they are. While it has often welcomed Qatar’s role as a mediator, alongside Egypt, it has also accused the Gulf nation of not putting enough pressure on the group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to publicly claim responsibility for the strike, saying: “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility.”
The prime minister’s office claimed that the strike “was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” and that the country takes full responsibility for it.
The Israeli government later said the strike had been planned in response to the “murderous attacks in Jerusalem” which killed at least six people on Monday and for which Hamas has claimed responsibility.
With agency reports
