Dangerous Diplomatic Escalation: UN Security Council Holds Urgent Session on Israeli Strike in Doha

The UN Security Council is holding an urgent briefing today, Thursday, following a request from Algeria, Pakistan, and Somalia, to discuss the Israeli strike that targeted a Hamas office in Doha, the capital of Qatar. This attack, which has sparked regional and international outrage, puts faltering mediation efforts in Gaza at risk and threatens to escalate tensions across the region.

Details of the Attack and Casualties

A Security Council statement indicated that the Israeli strike targeted senior political leaders of Hamas, including chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. While Hamas claimed its top officials survived the attack, it confirmed the deaths of five lower-level members, along with Al-Hayya’s son and his office director, as well as a Qatari security official, a detail also confirmed by Qatar.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strike, saying he approved it in response to a Monday attack in Jerusalem that killed at least six people, for which Hamas's military wing had claimed responsibility.

Strong International Reactions and Qatari Outrage

The strike drew widespread condemnation from the international community. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the attack as a "blatant violation" of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling on all parties to work towards a permanent ceasefire. The attack was also condemned by several countries, including Algeria, France, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.

On the Qatari side, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Alia Ahmed Saif Al Thani, strongly condemned the strike, calling it a "blatant violation of all international laws and norms." In another statement, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani labeled the attack "an act of state terrorism" that requires a "response from the entire region." Al Thani confirmed that Qatar is re-evaluating its role as a mediator, stressing that the attack proves Israel is negotiating in "bad faith."

Future of Ceasefire Talks and the Doha Summit

These developments come at a very sensitive time for mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas. The Security Council statement noted that the parties were on the verge of discussing the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal, which includes a 60-day truce and the release of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees and an increase in humanitarian aid.

However, the Israeli attack threatens to derail these efforts. Reports indicated that Qatar had urged Hamas to accept the proposal just before the strike. In this context, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that regional countries would discuss their "collective response" at the "Arab-Islamic Summit" to be held in Doha on September 15, signaling a coordinated regional action in response to the attack.