Qatar PM: Netanyahu ‘Killed Any Hope’ For Gaza Hostages With Doha Attack

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani delivered sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday after Israel carried out an airstrike in Doha that targeted Hamas figures.

In an interview with CNN, Al Thani blasted the move as “barbaric” and accused Israel of committing “state terror,” arguing that the attack destroyed any hope of securing the release of hostages still being held in Gaza.

“We were thinking that we are dealing with civilized people,” Al Thani said. “And the action that (Netanyahu) took – I cannot describe it, but it’s a barbaric action.”

The Qatari leader said the strike disrupted Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts and destabilized the situation across the region. He disclosed that a 22-year-old Qatari security officer had been killed and warned that other citizens remain at risk. As for Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, Al Thani said his condition is unclear, noting there has been “no official declaration.”

He also vented his dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s behavior in the ceasefire process, remarking, “He wasn’t serious about anything,” while dismissing recent talks as “meaningless.” According to Al Thani, Doha is now “reassessing everything” about its role in negotiations and has entered “very detailed conversation” with Washington.

Even so, Al Thani maintained that Qatar would not abandon its role as a mediator, though he cautioned that both Israel and Hamas are “going to run out of chances” to reach an agreement.

Following Tuesday’s strike, Al Thani denounced it as an act of “state terrorism” and declared that Qatar “reserves the right” to take action against Israel.

Speaking the same day, US President Donald Trump acknowledged to reporters that he was “not thrilled” with Israel’s decision to strike Hamas officials in Doha.

“I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” Trump said when pressed on the issue.

“But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today,” he added.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted during her briefing that Washington had provided advance notice of the strike to Qatar. Al Thani, however, contradicted that account, saying the US only alerted Doha ten minutes after the operation had already begun.

{Matzav.com}