Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani warned, Tuesday, that the erosion of international norms in favor of brute force risks ushering in a lawless global order. He stressed that violators of international relations often interpret tolerance as weakness and incapacity.
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Sheikh Tamim stated that Doha had been targeted in a “treacherous attack” on September 9, 2025, when an Israeli airstrike struck a meeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation in the Leqtaifiya district of the capital.
The strike killed six individuals, including one Qatari national, and injured several others. The delegation had been discussing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal at the time.
He described the incident as a blatant violation of international conventions and labeled it “an act of state terrorism.”
He affirmed that the Israeli strike constituted an assault on a peace-making nation that has spent the past two years engaged in intensive efforts to end the war in Gaza.
Qatar, he said, has played a central role in mediation alongside Egypt and the United States, helping to secure the release of 148 hostages.
“No party attempts to assassinate a delegation it is negotiating with unless its goal is to sabotage the talks,” he added.
Sheikh Tamim asserted that if ending the war is the price of freeing hostages, then the Israeli government has chosen to abandon their release. He accused Israel’s Prime Minister of viewing the war as an opportunity to expand the illegal colonies and alter the status quo in Jerusalem, while pursuing a vision of the Arab region as an Israeli sphere of influence.
He continued, “Netanyahu boasts of obstructing peace with the Palestinians. Israel seeks to impose its will on its Arab surroundings, branding any opposition as terrorism or antisemitism.”
Qatar, he said, remains committed to the principles of international law and unafraid to speak the truth. Despite facing disinformation campaigns, the country continues its mediation efforts in Gaza and other regions, including parts of Africa.
Reaffirming Qatar’s role as a constructive partner in global conflict resolution, Sheikh Tamim urged the international community to seize the opportunity to support Syria. He called for rejecting foreign interference, particularly Israeli attempts to fragment the country.
He concluded by reiterating Qatar’s support for Lebanon, its people and institutions, and emphasized the need for Israel to withdraw from recently occupied positions. He also called on all parties in Sudan to engage in an inclusive dialogue that ensures the country’s stability and sovereignty.
