Qatar Emir Accuses Israel of Being an “Enemy” to Neighbors at UN Assembly

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Tuesday condemned Israel at the United Nations General Assembly, describing it not as a democratic nation surrounded by enemies, but as a threat to its regional neighbors.

Speaking at the annual gathering, the Emir addressed the Israeli airstrike earlier this month in Doha that targeted Hamas negotiators, killing six people, including a Qatari national.

“Israel is engaged in a genocide in Gaza, and its leader proudly prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state, promising that such a state will never exist,” Sheikh Tamim said.

He added that although Israel is surrounded by countries that have either signed peace agreements or committed to the Arab Peace Initiative, it refuses to accept truces or settlements. “It seeks to impose its will on its Arab neighbors, branding anyone who opposes it as either antisemitic or a terrorist. Even Israel’s allies recognize this and reject it,” the Emir said.

Sheikh Tamim also expressed gratitude to the international community for the solidarity shown to Qatar following the attack, including a UN Security Council statement condemning the incident.

He described the airstrike as an effort to undermine ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. “Contrary to the claim of the Israeli Prime Minister, this attack is not a legitimate pursuit of terrorism suspects. It is a diplomatic act aimed at political assassinations, which undermines efforts to end the genocide in Gaza,” he said.

The Emir further emphasized that the strike targeted politicians engaged in negotiations with Israel while reviewing an American proposal, marking a direct assault on diplomatic channels.