By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, terming it a “most dangerous provocation” that threatens regional peace and stability, as Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif conveyed solidarity with Qatar in a phone call with its amir on Tuesday.
“The Prime Minister strongly condemned the unlawful and heinous bombing in Doha by Israeli forces today, that resulted in the loss of precious lives and damage to civilian property,” a statement from Sharif’s office said. “The Prime Minister termed Israel’s attack as a dastardly act, that showed the mindset of its leaders, who were willing to go to any length in the blind pursuit of their nefarious goals.”
Sharif called the Israeli aggression a brazen violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar that posed a most dangerous provocation and could imperil regional peace and stability. “The Prime Minister assured His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that Pakistan stood like a rock with the State of Qatar, against Israel’s aggression and called for unity within the ranks of the Ummah at this critical time.”
“While thanking the Prime Minister for his telephone call as well as for the sincere expression of solidarity with the people of Qatar at this challenging moment, His Highness the Amir said that he was deeply touched by this thoughtful gesture shown by the Prime Minister, that reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Qatar.”
Both leaders agreed to remain in contact in the interest of regional peace and security.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also condemned the strike, calling it “reprehensible” and a blatant violation of international law. He stressed that Pakistan “reiterates its unwavering support for the people and the State of Qatar in these grave times.”
The condemnations came hours after Israel launched the airstrike against Hamas leaders in Qatar, expanding military actions that have ranged across the Middle East to include the Gulf Arab state where the Palestinian group has long had its political base. Qatar, which has acted as a mediator alongside Egypt in talks on a ceasefire in the almost two-year-old conflict in Gaza, condemned the attack as “cowardly” and called it a flagrant violation of international law.
Two Hamas sources told Reuters that Hamas officials in the ceasefire negotiating team survived the attack, which followed an evacuation order in Gaza City, where Israel is waging an offensive to try to destroy the group and its military capabilities in the Gaza Strip. A senior Hamas source told Al Jazeera that leaders of the group were targeted while discussing United States President Donald Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Plumes of black smoke were billowing from the city’s Legtifya petrol station. Right next door to the petrol station is a small residential compound that has been guarded by Qatar’s emiri guard 24 hours a day since the beginning of the Gaza conflict. Ambulances and at least 15 police and unmarked government cars thronged the streets around the blast site an hour after the strike.
Israeli media, citing a senior Israeli official, said the attack was aimed at top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, its Gaza chief.
“The IDF (Israeli military) and ISA (security agency) conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” the Israeli military said. An Israeli military official told AFP that the military had carried out air strikes. “The name of the operation in Doha is Summit of Fire. These were air strikes,” a military official said.
Some Israeli media outlets reported that United States President Donald Trump had allowed the attack. However, the Israeli prime minister’s office said, “Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes following a deadly shooting in Jerusalem a day earlier, claimed by the Palestinian group. “Yesterday, following the deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of targeting Hamas leaders,” said a joint statement from Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz. “Today at noon, in light of an operational opportunity … the prime minister and the defence minister decided to implement the directive given last night”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Al Jazeera that there was no comment from the US administration at this time on the Israeli strikes. “We were informed in advance,” a White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity about the strike on Qatar, a key ally that’s home to a large US military base.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari slammed the attack. “The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha. This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
“While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available,” the spokesperson said.
The assault is likely to deal a serious, if not fatal, blow to efforts to reach a ceasefire, especially since negotiations took place in the Gulf Arab country. Hamas and Israel have held multiple rounds of indirect ceasefire negotiations brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States throughout the nearly two-year Gaza conflict. Despite two temporary truces, the talks have failed to bring a lasting end to the fighting that has led to over 64,000 Palestinians killed.
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