UN Security Council Condemns Israeli Strike on Doha, Urges De-escalation:

New York – The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned Israel’s recent airstrike on the Qatari capital, Doha, calling for immediate de-escalation and reaffirming its support for Qatar’s sovereignty. In a rare moment of unity, all 15 Council members — including the United States, Israel’s closest ally — agreed on a joint statement ahead of an emergency meeting held Thursday. The meeting was called following Tuesday’s unprecedented Israeli airstrike, which targeted a location in Doha where senior Hamas leaders were reportedly holding talks. The strike killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. While Hamas confirmed its leadership survived the assassination attempt, the attack has sent shockwaves through the region, dramatically increasing tensions. The Hamas officials were allegedly discussing a new peace proposal brought forward by U.S. President Donald Trump at the time of the attack. The proposal, according to sources, aimed at ending hostilities in Gaza and securing the release of remaining hostages. The Security Council’s statement, drafted by France and the United Kingdom, avoided directly naming Israel but expressed solidarity with Qatar and called for calm. “Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar,” the statement read. It also reiterated that resolving the hostage crisis and ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza remained urgent priorities. The U.S. response to the attack marked a significant shift in tone. Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, delivered a pointed critique, stating: “Unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation working very hard and bravely taking risks alongside the United States to broker peace, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.” However, she cautioned against questioning Israel’s commitment to recovering hostages. Al Jazeera’s UN correspondent Gabriel Elizondo reported that while the U.S. helped soften the statement’s language, it also made it clear that Washington would not defend the strike. “This was a bridge too far for the United States,” he said, adding that the White House was not informed in advance of the attack. President Trump, upon learning of the operation, reportedly ordered his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to alert Qatari authorities — but by then, the strikes were already underway. The White House has yet to issue a detailed statement, but observers expect more clarity in the coming days. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, flew to New York to personally address the Council. He emphasized Qatar’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict but warned that Doha would not tolerate further violations of its sovereignty. “Israel is undermining regional stability with impunity,” he said, calling the attack “arrogant” and “deliberately disruptive to peace talks.” UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, described the attack as an “alarming escalation” and warned that it could open a dangerous new chapter in the already devastating conflict. She highlighted Qatar’s critical role as a mediator and expressed grave concern over the broader implications of Israel’s military actions in the region — including in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Algeria’s UN ambassador, Amar Bendjama, was among the most vocal critics, saying, “This is not strength; it is madness.” He accused Israel of acting as if international law and national sovereignty no longer mattered. Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, defended the attack, stating that the target was Hamas leaders planning terrorist activities “from the luxury confines of Doha.” He dismissed them as “terrorists,” not legitimate political figures. Despite Israel’s justification, the prevailing sentiment at the UN was overwhelmingly supportive of Qatar and critical of Israel’s tactics. As Elizondo reported from the session, “The world clearly stands behind Qatar. There was widespread support for Doha — and growing calls for accountability.

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