Qatar’s Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has described Israel’s attack on Doha as an act of ‘state terrorism’.
“I have no words to express how enraged we are from such an action … this is state terror,” he said in an interview with CNN. “We are betrayed.”
The prime minister added that the US has expressed its support for Qatar “on many occasions”.
He went on to say that he believes Israel’s strike on Doha “killed any hope” for the hostages remaining in Gaza.
Shaikh Mohammed said that a response to Israel’s attacks is being discussed with regional partners and leaders would meet in Doha in the near future.
The UN Security Council yesterday postponed a planned meeting until today at the request of Qatar so the country’s prime minister could attend.
Shaikh Mohammed called out Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name, saying ‘these barbaric actions only reflect the barbarism of this person, who is dragging the region to a place where it unfortunately cannot be repaired’.
When asked whether Doha would shut down Hamas’ political office, he said his government was “reassessing everything” about what next steps it would take.
“We are in a very detailed conversation with the United States’ government and we need to understand what will be the way forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassador to the US said if Israel failed to kill Hamas leaders in the air strike, it would succeed next time, which raised concerns it would torpedo efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Right now, we may be subject to a little bit of criticism. They’ll get over it. And Israel is being changed for the better,” Yechiel Leiter told Fox News.
Yesterday, Israel struck the Yemeni capital Sana’a, after killing Houthi Prime Minister Ahmad Ghaleb Al Rahwi and other senior figures in an attack in late August.
Witnesses said the attack targeted the Houthi defence ministry, while Israeli Army Radio reported that Houthi headquarters and military camps were among the targets.
The Israeli military confirmed it had attacked Yemen.
UAE President Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Qatar yesterday.
Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein was also expected to visit Qatar, while Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to arrive in Doha today, an official told Reuters.
The visits were a show of regional solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli strikes, the official said.
The European Commission will propose sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers and the suspension of trade-related measures in a European Union agreement with Israel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The proposals reflect growing EU criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and increased pressure on the bloc’s executive body to take action.
Families, some carrying their belongings on vehicles, donkey carts and rickshaws, continued to stream out of Gaza City along the coastal road in anticipation of a major Israeli offensive.
At least 30 people have been killed across the enclave, according to medics.
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