On Tuesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani expressed his intent to respond to Israel following a strike aimed at a Hamas leader based in Doha.
“Qatar reserves the right to defend its territory and will act decisively to implement necessary retaliatory measures,” Al Thani stated during a translated news conference.
In response, Qatar’s Prime Minister convened a meeting with his State Minister on Wednesday to review policies aimed at preventing similar actions in the future.
Israel labeled him a “national terrorist” and directly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I think we’ve reached a turning point here. There needs to be a response from the entire region against this aggression, which seems to embody one underlying issue. Sadly, it reflects an unchecked barrage throughout the region that leaves us unable to manage the situation, rendering any attempts to restore normalcy impossible and disregarding international law,” he mentioned.
In an escalation of its conflict with Hamas, Israel conducted an assassination attempt on Hamas political figures residing in Qatar on Tuesday. This action appears to have derailed ongoing negotiations for hostage releases.
Despite the threat of retaliation, Qatar emphasized that it would continue its mediation role in various regional discussions.
“At the core of our identity is mediation and Qatari diplomacy. We remain committed to this role, as it is essential for achieving stability in the region and, ultimately, for our people,” Al Thani remarked on Tuesday.
