Doha: Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has condemned a treacherous attack targeting an apartment building in Doha, where the family of a political leader of Hamas and the movement's negotiating team were residing. In his opening speech at the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha, Sheikh Tamim highlighted the residential area's significance, being home to schools and diplomatic missions.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the attack resulted in six martyrs, including a Qatari citizen who was a member of the Internal Security Force, and injured 18 others. The summit saw participation from Arab and Muslim leaders, including the representative of the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Sheikh Tamim expressed shock at the aggression, which he described as a violation of state sovereignty and international norms, emphasizing the special circumstances of the act.
Qatar has been actively mediating peace deals to end the war against the Palestinian people in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages. Sheikh Tamim noted that Doha has hosted delegations from Hamas and Israel for joint mediation efforts with Egypt and the United States, achieving the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Despite the resumption of hostilities by Israeli forces, Qatar remains committed to mediation for a lasting ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The attack on September 9 targeted Hamas political leaders during a meeting to discuss a US ceasefire proposal. Sheikh Tamim accused Israeli authorities of being aware of the meeting and attempting to assassinate the negotiators to derail the peace process. He criticized the Israeli occupation for prioritizing war over the liberation of captives, suggesting that negotiations are a facade for continued aggression.
Sheikh Tamim also referenced the peace agreements between Israel and neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, and the ongoing commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative for a peaceful Middle East settlement. He lamented the missed opportunities for regional peace due to the Israeli occupation's actions.