NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council has issued a rare unanimous condemnation of Israel following its unprecedented air strike on Qatar’s capital Doha, marking the first time Israel has directly targeted a Gulf nation. All 15 council members – including the United States, Israel’s closest ally – backed a joint statement calling for immediate de-escalation and reaffirming Qatar’s sovereignty.
The strongly worded text, drafted by France and the United Kingdom, expressed “solidarity with Qatar” and underscored the importance of ending the bloodshed in Gaza. While it stopped short of directly naming Israel, diplomats said Washington’s decision to support the statement signaled deep unease within the White House over the attack. International media reports that the United States worked to soften the language, which could have been more severe.
The United States generally blocks actions against Israel at the United Nations, but it did not do so on Thursday. Qatar is also a close ally, and hosts the American military’s regional command center.
Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea made Washington’s position clear. “Unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation working very hard and bravely taking risks alongside the United States to broker peace, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals,” she told the Council.
“That said, it is inappropriate for any member to use this to question Israel’s commitment to bringing their hostages home,” she added.
Qatar warns of escalation
The Security Council statement highlighted Qatar’s role as “a key mediator” in Israel-Hamas talks.
Qatar, Algeria, Pakistan, and Somalia requested the emergency meeting. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, traveled to New York to attend. Addressing the chamber, the Qatari Prime Minister blasted Israel’s leaders as “arrogant,” accusing them of deliberately sabotaging negotiations.
“Israel is undermining the stability of the region impetuously,” he said, vowing that Doha would continue its humanitarian efforts but would not tolerate further breaches of sovereignty.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo described Qatar as a “valued partner in advancing peacemaking” and called Israel’s actions “an alarming escalation.” She warned that the raid “potentially opens a new and perilous chapter in this devastating conflict, seriously threatening regional peace and stability.”
‘Recklessness, not strength’
Algeria’s ambassador Amar Bendjama went further, accusing Israel of acting as if “law does not exist, as if borders are illusions, as if sovereignty itself is a dispensable motion.”
“This is not strength, it is recklessness. It is a sign of madness,” Bendjama told the Council. “It is the conduct of an extremist government, emboldened by immunity and impunity.”
Israel’s envoy Danny Danon defended the raid, insisting it targeted Hamas leaders operating from the “luxury confines of Doha.” He dismissed them as “terrorists” rather than legitimate negotiators.
Al Jazeera reported that the overwhelming sentiment at the Council was clear: “The world clearly stands behind Qatar … You saw widespread condemnation of Israel and calls for accountability.”
Arab and Islamic response
Qatar confirmed that at least six people were killed in the attack, including a 22-year-old Qatari security guard. Hamas said its negotiators survived. Doha condemned the raid as a “cowardly act” and a violation of international law, warning it would not tolerate Israel’s “reckless behaviour.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also blasted the raid in his annual Shoura Council address, calling it “brutal aggression against Qatar” and urging a unified international response to Israel’s “criminal” behaviour.
“The incident demands a unified response from Arab, Islamic, and international communities,” he said, describing Israel’s actions as destabilising the entire region.
The Gulf nation also denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to justify the strike by pointing to Hamas’ political office in Doha. “Negotiations were always held officially and transparently, with international support and in the presence of US and Israeli delegations,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said.
It vowed to hold Netanyahu “accountable” for his “reckless and irresponsible actions.”
Meanwhile, the Qatar News Agency announced Doha will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on September 14-15 to coordinate a regional response to what it described as Israeli “aggression.”
Pakistan backs Qatar
Pakistan’s Prime Minister has assured the Qatari leadership of his country’s full solidarity and support in the wake of Israel’s unprecedented air strike on Doha, which left six people dead. Shehbaz Sharif voiced “strongest condemnation” of the strike during talks with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, pledging Islamabad’s “full solidarity and support.”
Prime Minister Sharif, during the meeting, said that the leadership and people of Pakistan were deeply disturbed by this attack against the brotherly State of Qatar, which constituted a serious breach of international law.
He assured the Qatari leadership of Pakistan’s complete solidarity and support in the face of this unjustified provocation, his office said in a statement.
