The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has expressed support for Qatar and condemned Israel’s attack in Doha, calling on the international community to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law.
In a statement from the group, His Excellency Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned in the “strongest terms the despicable and cowardly operation carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on the territory of the sisterly State of Qatar.”
It added that GCC countries “stand in full solidarity with the sisterly State of Qatar and stand with it in any action it takes against this treacherous aggression, which has violated and torn apart all international laws and treaties adopted by the countries of the world.”
“This requires the international community to immediately rise up and fulfill its duties to hold the Israeli occupation forces accountable for their brutal and serious crimes and to deter them from all their practices that have begun to destabilize and undermine security in the region.”
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
In a phone call with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described Israel’s attack on Doha as a “criminal act and a flagrant violation of international law.” He offered Saudi Arabia’s “full solidarity” with Qatar.
Also, the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed Turkey’s solidarity with Qatar and renewed a call on the international community to exert pressure to halt Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories and the wider region.
It condemned the strikes, describing them as “evidence of Israel’s expansionist policies and its adoption of terrorism of state strategy.”
Omer Celik, the Spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, described the attack as a “barbaric act of terrorism.”
The chorus of condemnation highlights growing regional concern over Israel’s military actions, with Qatar receiving explicit backing from Gulf and Turkish leaders in the wake of the attack.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that a member of Qatar’s Internal Security Force was killed. It added that other security personnel were hurt.
The assault marks the second time the energy-rich nation has been directly attacked in the nearly two years of war that have gripped the wider Middle East since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — even as it has served as a key negotiator in efforts to end the conflict. It also calls into question whether any negotiations will immediately continue.
Qatar’s vast Al-Udeid Air Base, home to the US military’s forward headquarters for its Middle East-based Central Command, came under Iranian attack during the 12-day Iran-Israel war that saw American bombers attack Iranian nuclear sites.
Israeli Attack On Qatar Points To Efforts To Undermine Stability
Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun said the Israeli strikes were “part of a series of attacks committed by Israel, demonstrating its insistence on undermining all efforts made to achieve stability and security in the countries of the region and the safety of its people.”
Since a ceasefire nominally put an end to the latest war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in November, Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes in Lebanon.
Aoun urged the international community to put an end to “these Israeli practices that continue to violate all international laws and agreements and obstruct every commendable effort made by the State of Qatar to establish peace in the region and put an end to the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people.”
Also, Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, said that the Israeli attack on Doha represents a “turning point that will have dangerous implications” for the region.
“This operation is against Qatar, which is leading the mediation efforts, and against the Hamas leadership that is discussing the American proposal. Is there worse shamelessness?”
Mustafa Barghouti
He added that the strikes show that Israel is not interested in a ceasefire agreement and is determined to carry on with its genocide and ethnic cleansing plans in Gaza.
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