US joins Security Council in condemning Doha strikes as members deliberately fail to name Israel
The Qatari prime minister said the attack exposed Israel’s intent to extend the genocide in Gaza and disregard the hostages
The UN Security Council condemned the recent strikes on Qatar’s capital Doha, but neglected to name Israel as the perpetrator of the attack, issuing a statement approved by all 15 members, including the US, on 11 September.
The Security Council statement was a consensus text, which means every member had to agree on each word before it could be released. Its carefully chosen wording, approved even by the US, underscored the deliberate decision to avoid naming Israel.
“Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar. They underlined their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar,” read the text drafted by Britain and France.
The statement added that “releasing the (Israeli) hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and ending the war and suffering in Gaza must remain our top priority.”
Algeria’s envoy Amar Bendjama criticized the language as too weak, saying, “Violence breeds violence. Impunity breeds war. Silence in the international community, and of this very Security Council, fuels chaos … This very council remains constrained, unable even to name the aggressor, to qualify aggression as a violation of international law.”
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told the council the strikes revealed Israel’s intent to derail mediation.
“Attacking our territories while we were busy with negotiations has uncovered the intention of Israel. It is trying to undermine any prospect of peace. It is trying to perpetuate the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he said, adding, “It also shows that extremists who rule Israel today do not care about the hostages. This is not a priority.”
The operation in Doha was launched on Tuesday in an attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders. The action drew condemnation across the world for threatening Qatar’s mediation role in the Gaza war.
Al-Thani is in New York today for meetings with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and US envoy Steve Witkoff.
POLITICO and Axios reported the discussions will address the Doha strike and prospects for a ceasefire agreement.
Trump, who earlier said the strike was ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voiced his discontent, stating that unilateral action against Qatar does not serve US or Israeli interests.
“We are betrayed,” said Al-Thani in the CNN interview, referring to the Israeli attack on Doha, but making it clear he was not referring to the US, but to Israel, adding that Netanyahu “has no limits.”
Al-Thani said that the US passed on Israel’s plans, but the alert arrived too late, with Washington allegedly receiving notice only shortly before the attack commenced.
By the time Qatar had received the warning, the attack was already underway.
The prime minister warned, “This is not only an infringement of our sovereignty, it is an attack on international law. It undermines the entire negotiation process and even the US effort.”
He added that “Netanyahu has just killed any hope for those hostages.”