Security Council Condemns Israel’s Qatar Attack

News Desk

Islamabad: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned Israel’s airstrike on Qatar’s capital, Doha, and urged de-escalation in a rare statement unanimously backed by all 15 members, including Israel’s closest ally, the United States.

The statement, drafted by France and the United Kingdom, came ahead of an emergency meeting convened to discuss Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha. The attack killed five Hamas members, though the group said its senior leadership survived.

A member of Qatar’s security forces was also killed. The assault, which coincided with intensified Israeli operations in Gaza that have displaced over 200,000 people, has sharply raised regional tensions.

Hamas leaders were reportedly holding talks on a new peace proposal from US President Donald Trump when the strike occurred.

“Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar,” the statement said, though it avoided directly naming Israel. It also stressed that ending the Gaza war, alleviating civilian suffering, and securing the release of more than 40 hostages—around half of whom are believed to be alive remain urgent priorities.

The US, long seen as Israel’s shield at the UN, appeared to deliver a rare public rebuke. Acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea said: “Unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation working closely with the United States to broker peace, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.” She added, however, that the incident should not be used to question Israel’s commitment to freeing its hostages.

Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from New York, cited diplomatic sources as saying Washington had resisted calls for stronger language against Israel. Even so, Shea acknowledged that “the US cannot and will not defend Israel’s attack on Qatar.”

“This was a bridge too far for the United States,” Elizondo noted, suggesting further clarification may come from the White House in the days ahead.

US officials have said President Trump was not briefed beforehand. Once informed, he reportedly instructed envoy Steve Witkoff to alert Qatari authorities but by then, the attack was already underway.