Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the UN Security Council meeting held on Thursday. Photo courtesy of UN
The Security Council "underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar. They underlined their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, in line with the principles of the UN Charter" said the statement, which required the agreement of all 15 council members, including Israel's ally the United States.
The Council members also recalled their support for the vital role that Qatar continues to play in mediation efforts in the region, and alongside Egypt and the United States.
The Security Council statement called Doha "the territory of a key mediator" for peace talks between Israel and Hamas, alongside Egypt and the United States.
UNSC members underscored that releasing the Israeli captives, ending the war and suffering in Gaza "must remain our top priority."
In this regard, "they reiterated the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US, and called for the parties to seize the opportunity for peace,” the statement adds.
The statement came after an unsuccessful Israeli attempt to assassinate senior Hamas officials in Qatar’s capital, Doha.
According to Hamas, the strike failed to achieve its goals, and its top officials survived, but five of its members were killed, including top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya's son Hamam, his office director Jihad Labad, and three of his bodyguards, Ahmad Mamlouk, Abdallah Abdelwahd, and Mumen Hassoun.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who traveled to New York for the emergency meeting, welcomed the council's statement of support and reiterated his country's commitment to acting as a mediator in the conflict.
"We will continue our humanitarian and diplomatic role without any hesitation, in order to stop the bloodshed," Al-Thani said, a day after suggesting a reassessment of his country's mediation role.
"At the same time, we will not condone any attack on our sovereignty. We will reserve the right to respond through tools guaranteed by international law," he added, calling Israel's leaders "bloodthirsty extremists."
Since the beginning of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, the Security Council has been largely paralyzed on the issue due to repeated vetoes by the United States and other member states.
But US President Donald Trump, despite his support of Israel, said he was "not thrilled" with the attack on Tuesday in the core of Doha.
At a Security Council meeting on the strikes later Thursday, acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the body: "Unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation working very hard and bravely taking risks alongside the United States to broker peace, does not advance Israel's or America's goals."
"That said, it is inappropriate for any member to use this to question Israel's commitment to bringing their hostages home," Shea continued.
"Eliminating Hamas, which has profited off of the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal," she claimed, calling the strikes "unfortunate" but adding that "President Trump believes it could serve as an opportunity for peace."
UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo expressed concern that the strikes represented an "alarming escalation."
"The Israeli attack on Doha potentially opens a new and perilous chapter in this devastating conflict, seriously threatening regional peace and stability," she said.
Short link: