On September 9, Tuesday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, intensifying its military activities in the Middle East, which led to widespread condemnation from the UAE, other Gulf nations, and the European Union. On Wednesday, Netanyahu issued a warning to Qatar, demanding the expulsion of Hamas officials or their prosecution, cautioning, “Because if you don’t, we will.” He also accused Qatar of providing refuge and financial support to Hamas, as reported by Reuters. Qatar’s foreign ministry denounced Netanyahu’s “explicit threats of future violations of state sovereignty.” The ministry affirmed that the hosting of the Hamas office was part of Qatar’s mediation efforts, as requested by the United States and Israel, a statement echoed by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in an interview with CNN regarding the strikes. He stated that it was well-known that the Hamas office was established at the behest of the US and Israel for communication regarding Gaza for years. Expressing disbelief, he remarked, “Honestly, I have no words to express how enraged we are by such an action.” He labeled it as “state terror” and confirmed feeling betrayed by Israel’s actions. The Qatar PM expressed grave concern for the hostages’ families, conveying that Qatar’s mediation was their only hope for the hostages’ release, which Netanyahu’s actions have jeopardized. In response to Netanyahu’s threats, the Qatar PM dismissed any accusations, emphasizing that Netanyahu himself is wanted by the ICC for violating international laws, and therefore, lacks the authority to lecture others about the law. He criticized Netanyahu’s actions as “barbaric,” questioning if narcissism was the only explanation for targeting Hamas leaders who were there for mediation talks, asserting that civilized engagement was expected. Watch the clip here:
