While vowing to maintain its long-term mediator identity, Qatar is now forming a legal team to mount a formal international response against Israel. (Image: Daily Sabah)
In a fiery and defiant press conference, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani condemned Israel's strike on Doha as an act of "state terrorism" that has shattered ongoing peace efforts. Hours after the attack that killed a Qatari security officer, the PM vowed that nothing would deter his nation's mediating identity but revealed that current talks with Hamas are now effectively dead, blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their collapse.
Despite the brazen violation of its sovereignty, the Qatari Prime Minister made a powerful declaration of principle. He stated that mediation efforts are ingrained in the “Qatari identity” and that “nothing would deter its role in that regard.” This suggests that while the current round of talks is destroyed, Qatar sees its long-term role as a neutral broker as non-negotiable, a crucial part of its foreign policy.
The most immediate casualty of the attack was the delicate negotiation process. PM al-Thani was unequivocal: the talks are over for now. “Qatar has spared no efforts and will do everything it can to stop this war in Gaza, but for current talks, I do not think there's something valid right now after what we saw from today's attack," he stated. He placed the blame squarely on Israel, accusing it of “sabotaging what he said were chances for peace.”
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The Qatari leader’s language was exceptionally sharp, moving beyond diplomatic condemnation. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of engaging in "state terrorism" and attacked him directly and personally. This expression highlights the intensity of Qatari rage and marks a dramatic increase in language by linking a state's military activities with terrorist tactics.
Providing the Israeli perspective, PM Netanyahu defended the strike as “entirely justified.” He stated the operation was ordered in response to a recent attack in Jerusalem and the loss of four Israeli soldiers in Gaza. This rationale presents the Doha strike as a vital act of self-defense and direct vengeance against Hamas leadership, wherever they may be.
A critical and revealing detail emerged about the timeline of US involvement. PM al-Thani disclosed that U.S. officials first warned Qatar of the impending Israeli attack—but only “10 minutes after it began.” Due to this late notice, the prime minister referred to the entire strike as "100% treacherous," suggesting a deep sense of betrayal, both towards the US for what Qatar may consider inadequate warning and possibly towards Israel for the deed.
Also Read: US-Israel Rift Widens as White House Reject Israel’s Decision to Bomb Qatar
Moving beyond words, the Gulf state is preparing a formal and legal countermeasure. PM al-Thani announced that “Qatar reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary measures to respond." Crucially, he revealed that “a legal team has been formed” to handle the country's official response.
This suggests that rather than using military force, Qatar will probably seek its reprisal through international legal forums like the UN.
