ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday reiterated its condemnation of Israel’s September 9 strike in Doha, terming it a “highly provocative and reckless action” that undermined the ongoing peace process.
The Israeli attack, which Hamas said targeted its negotiating team in Qatar but failed, killed at least six people, including the son and an aide of senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, according to Al Jazeera.
Qatar has been a principal mediator in the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters at the weekly briefing that the strike represented a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, international law, the UN Charter, and established norms of interstate relations.
“At a time when delicate negotiations on a Gaza peace deal were progressing towards a possible breakthrough, striking the territory of a principal mediator and those directly involved in negotiations is a deliberate attempt to sabotage diplomacy, derail peace efforts, and prolong the suffering of civilians,” he said.
The spokesman added that Israel, as the occupying power, was bent on undermining every possibility of peace.
UN Security Council session
At the request of Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia, the UN Security Council convened an urgent session on Thursday to discuss the strike. Reports said the Council described it as “treacherous” and a violation of international norms.
During the session, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said the Israeli attack reflected its “systematic disregard for international law” and its “brazen policy of destabilising the region.”
He added that the strike added to Israel’s record of cross-border actions in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen — all of which, he said, constituted violations of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law.
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PM’s visit to Doha
Meanwhile, the FO said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Doha on Thursday to express solidarity with Qatar’s leadership and people after the Israeli strike.
During his meeting with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the prime minister conveyed Pakistan’s “strongest condemnation” of the attack, terming it a serious breach of international law and Qatar’s sovereignty.
Mr Sharif assured Qatar of Pakistan’s “full solidarity and support in the face of this unjustified provocation” and called for unity among Muslim nations to stop Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
The premier also said Pakistan had sought an emergency UN Security Council meeting at Qatar’s request and welcomed Doha’s decision to host an Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on Sept 15. Pakistan, he added, had offered to co-sponsor and co-convene the summit through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
According to the FO, the visit reaffirmed the “deep-rooted brotherly ties” between Pakistan and Qatar and their shared commitment to regional peace and stability.
