New york: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, denouncing an Israeli strike as a "treacherous attack" and a blatant violation of international norms, which he framed as "an odious act of state terrorism."
According to Jordan News Agency, Sheikh Tamim emphasized that the Israeli bombardment targeted Qatar, a nation committed to peace-making efforts aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. Over the past two years, Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, has been instrumental in securing the release of 148 hostages through diplomatic mediation.
The Emir stated, "No party seeks to assassinate a delegation it is negotiating with unless its intent is to sabotage the talks." He further criticized Israel's government for choosing to abandon the release of hostages at the cost of halting the war, suggesting that such actions reveal an intent to derail peace efforts.
Sheikh Tamim warned of the dangers of allowing international law to succumb to brute force, suggesting that this would lead to the dominance of "the law of the jungle." He argued that tolerating violations in international relations signifies weakness and impotence on the global stage.
The Emir accused Israel's prime minister of using the ongoing conflict as a pretext to expand settlements, alter the status quo in Jerusalem, and obstruct peace with the Palestinians. He contended that Israel aims to impose its agenda on the Arab region while dismissing any opposition as terrorism or antisemitism.
Reaffirming Qatar's commitment to international law, Sheikh Tamim declared that Doha would continue to advocate for truth and justice, despite facing disinformation campaigns. He emphasized that Qatar remains dedicated to mediating a resolution to the conflict, highlighting that the recognition of Palestinian statehood underscores the futility of using violence to resolve such deep-seated issues.