The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, condemned during his speech at the opening of the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha the Israeli attack on a residence where families of Hamas leaders and their negotiating delegation were staying. The Emir described the attack as “treacherous and cowardly” and as a “terrorist act” aimed at undermining mediation efforts.
Sheikh Tamim explained that the attack took place while the Hamas leadership was studying a U.S. proposal conveyed by Qatar and Egypt. He asked: “If Israel wants to assassinate the political leadership of Hamas, then why does it negotiate with them?” He stressed that targeting a negotiating party is a clear attempt to sabotage the talks, affirming that Doha will defend its sovereignty and continue its mediating role.
Regarding Gaza, the Emir stated that the Israeli war has turned into genocide, aimed at making the territory uninhabitable in order to displace its population. He warned that Netanyahu’s government is pursuing “terrorist and racist policies” and seeks to impose new realities at the expense of the Palestinian people and the entire Arab world.
He further emphasized that if Israel had accepted the Arab Peace Initiative from the outset, the region would have been spared countless tragedies. He added that Israel’s plans to partition Syria and expand its influence in the region are “dangerous illusions” that will not succeed.
The summit was convened immediately after the recent Israeli attack on Qatar, which sparked widespread Arab and international outrage as it constituted a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and international law — particularly given that Doha has been playing a mediating role in the Gaza conflict for two years, and has facilitated the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
