UN Security Council condemns Doha strikes as US signals frustration with Israel’s attack

The United Nations Security Council has condemned recent strikes on Qatar’s capital Doha but did not mention Israel in the statement agreed to by all 15 members, including Israeli ally the United States.

Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with the attack on Tuesday, escalating its military action in what the United States described as a unilateral attack that does not advance US and Israeli interests.

The United States traditionally shields its ally Israel at the United Nations.

US backing for the Security Council statement, which could only be approved by consensus, reflects US President Donald Trump’s unhappiness with the attack ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s airstrikes in Doha, #Qatar, on Tuesday, shocked the world.

“It was an alarming escalation, especially since it targeted individuals who were reportedly gathered to discuss the latest US proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in #Gaza.

“Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar. They underlined their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar,” read the statement, drafted by the United Kingdom and France.

The widely condemned Doha operation was especially sensitive because Qatar has been hosting and mediating negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip war.

“Council members underscored that releasing the hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and ending the war and suffering in Gaza must remain our top priority,” the Security Council statement read.

The Security Council will meet later on Thursday to discuss the Israeli attack at a meeting due to be attended by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

A Hamas official said on Thursday that the Israeli attack that targeted its leaders was an attempt to derail the ceasefire negotiations but would not change the Palestinian group’s terms for ending the war in the Gaza Strip.

In a televised address, Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said the strike was not only an attempt to assassinate the negotiating delegation but a deliberate blow to the entire process and a clear message rejecting any ceasefire deal.

He also accused Israel of targeting the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt.

“This attack was a blatant confirmation by Netanyahu and his criminal gang of their refusal to reach any agreement and their insistence on derailing all regional and international efforts aimed at halting the genocide,” Barhoum said.

However, the group has not officially announced it would close the door on future talks.

Barhoum said the strike targeted the group’s negotiating delegation while they were discussing a new ceasefire proposal delivered by the Qatari prime minister just a day earlier.

“At the moment of the terrorist attack, the negotiating delegation was in the process of discussing its response to the proposal,” he said.

Barhoum reaffirmed Hamas’ key demands: a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a real prisoner-for-hostage exchange, humanitarian relief and reconstruction of the enclave.

Netanyahu is pushing for an all-or-nothing deal that would result in all of the hostages being released at once and Hamas surrendering.

Hamas said five of its members had been killed in the attack, including the son of Hamas’s exiled Gaza Strip chief and top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya.

It was unclear whether al-Hayya or other top officials attended the funeral of those killed in the strike.

However, images distributed by Hamas showed at least two political leaders - Osama Hamdan and Izzat al-Rishq - present at the ceremony.

The funeral, held in the Qatari capital, was attended by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to Qatari state media.