Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has called on the international community to end what he described as “double standards” in dealing with human rights violations, urging global powers to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing military actions in Gaza and the wider region.
Speaking at a meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers ahead of an emergency summit in Doha, Sheikh Mohammed accused Israel of committing “a war of extermination” against Palestinians, made possible by global silence and selective condemnation.
“The world cannot continue to condemn violations in some places and ignore them elsewhere,” he said. “Israel’s continued aggression is being encouraged by this silence.”
The comments follow an Israeli airstrike on Qatari soil on September 9, which reportedly targeted Hamas operatives. The attack killed six individuals, including a Qatari security officer, and has been widely condemned across the Arab and Islamic world. Qatar labeled the strike a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and a dangerous escalation.
Qatar has played a central role in mediating between Israel and Hamas, alongside the United States and Egypt. Sheikh Mohammed said the strike not only breached international law but also undermined the principles of diplomacy and negotiation.
“This attack came even as mediation efforts were ongoing. It is a direct attack on the concept of mediation itself,” he said.
Foreign ministers from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathered in Doha ahead of a broader summit of heads of state. A draft resolution condemning the Israeli strike and calling for international accountability is expected to be introduced.
Leaders attending the summit include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has also arrived in Doha.
Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, have expressed solidarity with Qatar and condemned the Israeli strike. The summit is expected to result in a joint statement and potentially coordinated political or economic measures.
As diplomatic tensions rise, the focus now shifts to whether Western powers, particularly the U.S., will respond to growing calls for accountability and a halt to what Arab leaders describe as unchecked Israeli aggression.
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