Qatar Emir Calls for Concrete Steps Against Israel’s “Desire to Shed Blood”

Kokcha News Agency*— Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has called for decisive international action against Israel’s “desire to shed blood,” emphasizing that Israel’s actions in Gaza have turned into a “war of extermination.” Speaking at the Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League, the Emir condemned Israel’s recent attack on Doha, which targeted Hamas members, and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to defending its sovereignty.

The Emir accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging negotiations and targeting Hamas’ political leadership, questioning why Israel would negotiate with Hamas while simultaneously trying to eliminate its leaders. “If Israel wants to kill Hamas’ political leadership, why is it negotiating with them? It is clear that Israel is trying to sabotage negotiations,” he said.

Sheikh Tamim described Israel’s attack on Doha as a “cowardly and treacherous act of terror” that not only targeted Qatar but also the security of the entire region. He emphasized that Qatar would take all necessary steps to defend its sovereignty and called for unity among Arab nations in the face of Israel’s aggression.

The Emir also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “dangerous dream” of establishing Israeli influence over the Arab world, stating that such plans are “illusions” and will never materialize. He pointed out that if Israel had accepted the Arab Peace Initiative, the region would have been spared countless tragedies.

Highlighting the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Sheikh Tamim described Israel’s actions as a “genocidal war” aimed at making Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displacing its population. He reiterated Qatar’s role as a mediator, recalling past efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges between Hamas and Israel.

The Emir called on the international community to take concrete steps against Israel’s aggression, emphasizing that this war is no longer just against Gaza but against the entire Arab world. He also warned against threats to Syria’s territorial integrity, stating that Israel’s attempts to divide the country will never succeed.

The Extraordinary Joint Summit, held at the level of heads of state, was convened in response to Israel’s September 9 attack on Doha, which killed six people, including a Qatari police officer and the son of a Hamas political bureau member. The summit, supported by Turkey, the current chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, is the third such meeting since Israel expanded its attacks on Gaza and other regional countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, following October 7, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had issued a new threat on September 10, warning Qatar to either expel Hamas members or hand them over to justice, or face further Israeli action.