Security Council to meet urgently following Israeli strikes on Qatar
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday in response to Israel’s strikes targeting Hamas officials in Qatar, diplomatic sources told.
The meeting, scheduled for 3pm in New York (19:00 GMT), was requested by Algeria and Pakistan, among others, the sources said Tuesday.
The strike on Doha, which killed several people including the son of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, has been widely condemned as a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. Observers note that it comes amid Israel’s relentless war on Gaza, its bombardment of Lebanon and Syria, and ongoing settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
US President Donald Trump gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a rare slap on the wrist over Israel’s strikes Tuesday against Hamas in Qatar, as he insisted he played no role in the attack by one close US ally against another.
Trump said he was not notified in advance of the Israeli attack on the Gulf state, a crucial broker in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas on ending the Gaza war and securing the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.
“I’m not thrilled about the whole situation, Trump told reporters last night during a rare outing to a Washington restaurant. “We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.
Israel’s UN envoy on Wednesday said his country does not always act in the interests of its ally the United States, after Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar drew a rare rebuke from President Donald Trump.
“We don’t always act in the interests of the United States. We are coordinated, they give us incredible support, we appreciate that, but sometimes we make decisions and inform the United States,” Danny Danon told an Israeli radio station.
It was not an attack on Qatar; it was an attack on Hamas, he said, adding that the decision is the right one, Danon said.
