Qatar: Israel leaders ‘don’t care’ about hostages.
Doha strike kills six, sparks UN rebuke; Qatar to host summit amid rising global calls for urgent de-escalation.
Qatar Accuses Israel of Ignoring Hostages After Deadly Doha Strike, Pledges Continued Peace Efforts
In a passionate address to the United Nations Security Council, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Israel of disregarding the fate of hostages held in Gaza following a deadly strike in Doha earlier this week. The strike, which targeted Hamas leaders on Qatari soil, killed several people and sparked an international outcry.
“Extremists that rule Israel today do not care about the hostages — otherwise, how do we justify the timing of this attack?” he asked, echoing growing frustrations among mediators and allies. He also directly blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “killing any hope for those hostages,” in an earlier interview with CNN.
The Doha strike, carried out on Tuesday, marked a serious escalation — not only due to its death toll, which included six individuals — but because it was executed in the capital of a U.S. ally, Qatar. Global powers responded swiftly, with nearly every UN Security Council member, except the United States, condemning the action and questioning Israel’s commitment to peace.
Qatar, a key mediator in ongoing hostage negotiations and ceasefire talks, has hosted multiple rounds of diplomacy throughout the nearly two-year war in Gaza. Despite the latest blow, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s resolve. “We will continue our humanitarian and diplomatic role without any hesitation in order to stop the bloodshed,” he said firmly.
UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo opened the session by stating Israel’s attack “shocked the world” and “potentially opens a new and perilous chapter” in the already devastating conflict. Many diplomats echoed her concerns, warning that the strike could derail fragile diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan’s ambassador, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, strongly criticized Israel, saying it was “bent on undermining every possibility of peace.” He also questioned whether freeing the hostages was ever a real priority for Israel.
As tensions deepen, the path forward looks increasingly uncertain — but Qatar insists its mission for peace remains unchanged.