Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani delivered a blistering condemnation of Israel’s recent airstrike on Doha, branding it an act of “state terrorism” and a deliberate attempt to destabilize the Middle East.

The unprecedented attack, which targeted Hamas leadership in the Qatari capital, has sparked outrage and heightened regional tensions, with Qatar vowing to respond decisively to Israel’s violation of its sovereignty.

In a fiery press conference on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed directly accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of orchestrating the strike to sabotage peace efforts and drag the region into chaos. “Netanyahu is a rogue actor practicing state terrorism, and this attack can only be described as treachery,” he declared, warning that Israel’s actions risk pushing the Middle East to “an irreparable level” of conflict.

The Israeli strike, which Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described as a “cowardly” and “reckless” assault, targeted residential buildings housing Hamas negotiators who were discussing a U.S.-proposed ceasefire for Gaza. The attack killed six people, including the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and a Qatari security officer, and injured civilians, according to Qatar’s Interior Ministry. Hamas confirmed its leadership survived, but the strike has been widely condemned as a flagrant violation of international law and Qatar’s territorial integrity.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that Qatar would not tolerate such aggression, asserting, “We affirm that Qatar will not compromise on its sovereignty and reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack.” He revealed that Israel used undetectable weapons, bypassing Qatar’s air defenses, and dismissed claims of prior notification, noting that the U.S. only informed Qatar ten minutes after the explosions began. “The claim that Qatar was warned beforehand is incorrect,” the Foreign Ministry stated, highlighting the “treacherous” nature of the operation.

Qatar has taken its case to the United Nations Security Council, warning that Israel’s strike constitutes a “grave incident” that threatens regional security and demands urgent international action. “Israel’s aggressive behavior cannot be ignored. Every measure must be taken against it,” Sheikh Mohammed urged, accusing Israel of systematically undermining peace efforts. He noted that the attack came as Hamas negotiators were engaging with a U.S. ceasefire proposal, underscoring Israel’s intent to derail diplomacy.

The strike on Doha is part of a broader pattern of Israeli aggression across the Middle East, with recent attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and the occupied West Bank leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Rights groups have labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for war crimes. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterated Doha’s resolve to protect its sovereignty, while Trump expressed solidarity but stopped short of fully condemning Israel.

International condemnation has poured in, with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and others denouncing Israel’s violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the strike a “flagrant violation” and urged all parties to prioritize a permanent ceasefire. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman labeled it a “criminal act,” while Turkey accused Israel of adopting “terrorism as state policy.”

Qatar’s leadership has vowed to continue its mediation role despite Israel’s aggression, with Sheikh Mohammed affirming that “nothing will deter us” from pursuing peace. However, he warned that the Doha strike has severely undermined current ceasefire talks, accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing regional destabilization over diplomacy. As Qatar mobilizes a legal team to hold Israel accountable, the international community faces growing calls to rein in Israel’s unchecked aggression across the Middle East. (ILKHA)