S/PV.9992 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates to participate in this meeting. I request the Protocol Officer to escort His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, to his seat at the Council table.

On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. DiCarlo. Ms. DiCarlo: We gather, yet again, as the scope of violence in the Middle East has widened, further threatening regional security and stability. Israel’s air strikes in Doha on 9 September shocked the world. It was an alarming escalation, especially since it targeted individuals who had reportedly gathered to discuss the latest United States proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. The Secretary- General condemned this strike as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He calls on Member States to ensure respect for their obligations under international law, including the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country, including Qatar  — a valued partner in advancing peacemaking and conflict resolution — must be respected. According to statements by Qatar, Israel targeted residential compounds housing members of the Hamas Political Bureau at approximately 3.45 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Hamas stated that the son of its chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, and his office manager and three other people affiliated with the group were killed. Hamas also said that its senior leadership survived the attack. According to Qatar, one Qatari security officer was killed, and several other security personnel were injured. Qatar’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs immediately condemned the attack, saying that this criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of the country. Israel claimed responsibility for the attack as soon as the news broke. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the strike was a wholly independent Israeli operation after the fatal attack in Jerusalem on 8 September, for which Hamas claimed responsibility. Many countries in the region and beyond, along with regional organizations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States In less than a month, we will mark the second anniversary of the horrific acts of terror that sparked the hostilities in Gaza. In those two years, the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, and almost completely destroyed Gaza. The situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has continued to spiral downward. This period has also seen dangerous escalations across the region involving Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. The Israeli attack on Doha potentially opens a new and perilous chapter in this devastating conflict, seriously threatening regional peace and stability. Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has been working intensively to broker a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza  — efforts aimed at ending the suffering and paving a path towards peace. We are deeply grateful for Qatar’s steadfast commitment and constructive diplomacy. All parties must act to preserve these efforts. Regrettably, Israel’s actions came at the height of ongoing consultations with the parties. Any action that undermines the work of mediation and dialogue weakens confidence in the very mechanisms that we depend on for conflict resolution. Preserving the integrity of negotiation and mediation channels is crucial for fostering the trust that parties need to engage in meaningful dialogue. It is also vital for safeguarding the norms that underpin diplomacy and peacemaking. Durable and just solutions to the crises in the Middle East will not come out of more violence and more fighting. I call on all stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint at this sensitive time and to recommit to diplomacy. The urgency of a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza has never been greater. Strike a deal. Free the hostages. End the suffering of the people of Gaza.

I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

At the outset, I would like to thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo for her briefing. We meet once again in the wake of yet another grave and unlawful act committed by the Israeli authorities, in addition to the endless record of their systematic violations of international law. Israel behaves as if law does not exist, as if borders are illusions, as if sovereignty itself is a dispensable notion, as if the Charter of the United Nations is an ephemeral text. Meanwhile, in Gaza, innocent lives are annihilated by the thousands. The world helplessly watches the horrific images of destruction, devastation and human despair. Yet, even that current carnage in Gaza is not enough for the Israeli authorities. In the span of days, Israel has struck Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and now, a renowned peace broker, the State of Qatar. This is not strength; it is recklessness. It is a sign of madness. It is the conduct of an extremist Government emboldened by impunity, a Government that is dragging the region and the whole world towards the abyss. Algeria strongly condemns and denounces the cowardly Israeli aggression that targeted the Qatari capital of Doha. We express our full solidarity with the brotherly State and people of Qatar. The recent attack in Doha is more than a violation of the sovereignty of a United Nations Member. It is an affront to diplomacy itself. It targeted a commended mediator working tirelessly to end the bloodshed in Gaza. It is irrefutable proof that the Israeli occupying Power does not seek peace, does Israel persists in relying solely on the arrogance of brutality, mistaking oppression for power and coercion for security. Yet, history taught us that the path of domination yields neither peace nor stability. Violence brings violence. Impunity breeds war. The silence of the international community and of this very Security Council fuels chaos. And yet, this very Council remains constrained, unable even to name the aggressor or to qualify aggression as a violation of international law. When will the international community wake up to its responsibilities? When will it deter the occupier? When will it halt the crimes and curb this reckless escalation threatening the entire region? The region and indeed the world demand meaningful action  — action to end the aggression, action to hold the occupying Power accountable and action to break the cycle of impunity. The Council must use all its tools, including sanctions, before it is too late.

We thank you, Mr. President, for convening this urgent meeting at the request of Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia and supported by other Security Council members. We also thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. We welcome the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. We also welcome the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan and the representatives of the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt in this meeting. Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal and unprovoked Israeli aggression against the brotherly State of Qatar. This reckless and provocative attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, contrary to the fundamental principles of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in particular its Article 2, paragraph 4, prohibiting the threat or use of force. As the Prime Minister of Pakistan has stated, this act of aggression by Israel is totally unjustified and constitutes a most dangerous provocation that could imperil regional peace and stability. The Israeli strikes targeted a residential neighbourhood, deliberately endangering civilians, and therefore also constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law. This brazen and illegal assault is not an isolated incident; rather, it is part of a broader and consistent pattern of aggression and violation of international law by Israel that undermines regional peace and stability. Pakistan expresses its complete solidarity with the Government and the people of Qatar and fully supports their inalienable right to take all necessary measures, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity and the safety of all persons within their territory. In a gesture of solidarity and regional unity, Prime Minister of Pakistan His Excellency Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, is visiting Qatar today. The visit underscores Pakistan’s unwavering support for the security and sovereignty of Qatar and its commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. This irresponsible action by Israel is yet another manifestation of its systematic disregard for international law and its brazen policy of destabilizing the region. It adds to its long and dubious record of aggression, brutal military actions in Gaza and repeated cross-border strikes in Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen, all of which amount to violations of the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law. Such acts of aggression, as defined by General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX), also set a dangerous precedent, erode the primacy of the rule of law and breed a culture of impunity that threatens the security of all States. In view of the gravity At a time when delicate negotiations on the 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. It is evident that Israel, the occupying Power, is bent on doing everything to undermine and blow up every possibility of peace. It also raises serious questions about whether the return of hostages was indeed a priority. Clearly, Israel’s destructive policies are incompatible with the international community’s quest for peace and stability. Sadly, it has been emboldened by the weak response and inaction of the Council. Pakistan commends Qatar’s important and constructive role in facilitating mediation efforts, including for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, which has been widely and consistently appreciated by all Council members, together with the role of Egypt and the United States. We recognize Qatar’s tireless and principled engagement with all parties, often under the most challenging circumstances, to keep the channels of dialogue open and advance the prospects of peace. Qatar has consistently demonstrated leadership, wisdom and commitment to humanitarian principles, working in close coordination with regional and international partners to bridge divides, promote peace, reduce tensions and alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people. Undermining such a credible and indispensable mediator threatens to extinguish one of the few viable pathways towards a just and lasting peace. Targeting Qatar is therefore not only an attack on a sovereign State but also an attack on diplomacy and mediation itself. Pakistan welcomes the Security Council’s condemnation of the strikes in Doha and its expression of support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The Council must go beyond that. It must hold Israel accountable, safeguard the role and protection of mediators engaged in peace efforts and recommit to the centrality of international law and the Charter of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. The root cause of the recurring crises and instability in the Middle East is Israel’s prolonged occupation of Arab lands and its persistent defiance of international law and international legitimacy. Durable peace can only be achieved through a comprehensive political settlement, including an end to the occupation of Arab lands, particularly the occupied Palestinian territories. Pakistan calls for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire across Gaza and all occupied Palestinian territories, full and unimpeded humanitarian access to the besieged and starved Palestinian population and the reinvigoration of a genuine and irreversible political process to end the Israeli occupation, leading to the realization of a sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with the leadership and the brotherly people of Qatar in defence of their sovereignty, dignity and territorial integrity. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, and to work with the international community to secure lasting peace in the Middle East.

We thank the Korean presidency for the prompt convening of this emergency meeting. I also want to thank Under-Secretary-General We welcome the participation in this meeting of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan, and representatives from the region, mainly the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt. The Israeli air strikes on residential areas in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on 9 September, mark a grave and perilous escalation. They have far-reaching consequences not only for the countries directly involved but for the entire region and beyond. We unequivocally condemn this brazen act of aggression, which is a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and risks destabilizing an already fragile region. Such actions are in direct defiance of the core principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, notably Article 2, paragraph 4, which prohibits the threat or use of force against any State’s territorial integrity or political independence. Somalia stands in solidarity with the sisterly State of Qatar and supports its right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security. Our delegation extends its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Qatar for the loss of life and wishes a speedy recovery to all the injured. This attack by Israel on a residential area housing embassies and schools shows a blatant disregard for human life. These consequences are not merely coincidence. Israel’s systematic expansion of the conflict zone, from Gaza to Lebanon, then to Iran, Syria, Yemen and now Qatar, is a deliberate strategy. This military strike unfolded when negotiators were engaged in talks over the United States-backed ceasefire proposal. It was aimed at undermining ongoing mediation efforts in the conflict in Gaza that were striving for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including those for whom we have heard the pleas of their loved ones in this Chamber; and unhindered humanitarian access to the civilian population, mainly women and children, suffering from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification-declared human-made famine caused by Israel. History has shown that every escalation and military attack only dims the already fragile hope for peace in the Middle East. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation that would worsen the suffering and instability in the region. Qatar’s role as a mediator in seeking to end this conflict has been invaluable and deserves recognition, not retaliation. Attacking those who are actively working to bring peace to the long-standing conflict in occupied Palestinian land undermines the very goals we all share. The Security Council bears a clear responsibility to uphold international peace and security. To remain silent or inactive in the face of this brazen violation of sovereignty would be to reduce international law to a mere suggestion, subject to the will of aggressors. We cannot allow these actions to continue or to become accepted practice. We call on all Council members to unite with determination to immediately condemn this aggression and renew efforts for dialogue and diplomacy without delay. True and lasting peace in the Middle East demands confronting the well-known root causes of perpetual instability in accordance with international law and its covenants. To conclude, Somalia reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the people of Qatar and joins the international community in demanding a swift return to diplomacy and

We welcome Korea’s presidency of the Council this month. I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. The United States would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the Qatari Internal Security Force member killed in the attack. I would also like to welcome our distinguished guests today: Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and His Excellency Mr. Anwar Gargash, who are all with us. 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. Eliminating Hamas, which has profited from the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal. Hamas and other terrorists must have no future in Gaza. Only after the terror group’s removal can Gaza advance towards a better future and only then can Israel be secure within its own borders. President Trump wants all of the hostages, living and dead, released, and this war to end now. And it will end, if Hamas disarms, releases the hostages and surrenders. But right now, Hamas continues to threaten Israel’s security and deliberately prolong the anguish. That anguish must come to an end. Hamas must immediately release the remaining hostages, including all of those hostages brutally murdered. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated to President Trump his desire for peace when the two spoke yesterday. Notwithstanding the unfortunate nature of this incident, President Trump believes it could serve as an opportunity for peace. The President assured the Amir as well as the Prime Minister of Qatar that such a thing would not happen again on their soil. The United States will continue to work to release all the hostages, reach a ceasefire, provide humanitarian assistance and end this conflict. The Council and United Nations Member States must continue to pressure Hamas to release the hostages, disarm and surrender, rather than give the terrorist group a lifeline. The United States has worked tirelessly with Qatar and Egypt to end this horrific conflict. The region’s people deserve a path forward, full of opportunity and free of Hamas.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. I also welcome the participation of His Excellency the Prime Minister of Qatar and His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We find today’s meeting on the recent Israeli strike, targeting the Political Bureau of Hamas in Doha, to be of particular importance. We are gravely concerned about the strike in Doha. It constitutes a violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and is contrary to international law. Any further escalation in the region is of deep concern to us, and we call for an immediate de-escalation. We also note that the strike is not conducive to negotiations towards reaching a ceasefire. Qatar has played a crucial and sensitive role in hosting and mediating ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas, alongside the United States and Egypt. We reiterate that the use of Greece has condemned, on multiple occasions and in the strongest possible terms, the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023. We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages, who have been inhumanely held ever since. We firmly believe that Hamas, as a terrorist organization, cannot and should not have any political role in the future governance of Gaza. Similarly, we unequivocally condemn the recent terrorist attack in East Jerusalem. Both are abhorrent incidents, which highlight the urgency of reaching a political solution — one that will bring stability and prosperity, breaking the cycle of violence. In this context, disrupting ongoing diplomatic efforts is dangerous. The diplomatic channel spearheaded by the United States, Egypt and Qatar has provided thus far the only credible pathway for ending the suffering. It was through this channel that some hostages could rejoin their loved ones at the beginning of the year. It was through this channel that a ceasefire, allowing for much-needed relief for the suffering Palestinian population, was brokered back in January. As this suffering in Gaza continues, and hostages remain in the captivity of Hamas, a ceasefire is once again sorely needed. Dialogue, no matter how fragile, must therefore be protected. It is absolutely necessary and essential for moving towards de-escalation and lasting peace. Echoing the statement of the Secretary-General, we urge all parties to recommit to the diplomatic process with a sense of utmost urgency. The road ahead is difficult and challenging. Efforts aimed at a ceasefire must not be derailed. Only a ceasefire paving the way for a political two-State solution will allow for the spiral of violence to end. It must come to an end now.

We thank the presidency for the prompt convening of this meeting, at the request of Algeria, with support from Pakistan, Somalia, France and the United Kingdom, in response to Israel’s strikes on Qatar. We are grateful to Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. We have carefully studied the position of the Qatari side, as set out in the letter circulated on 9 September (S/2025/567). We trust that detailed assessments of the events will be provided by the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar. We welcome the Prime Minister’s participation in the meeting and that of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan Ayman Safadi, Mr. Anwar Gargash and others. The Russian Federation strongly condemns Israel’s attack on a residential complex in Doha on 9 September, the stated target of which was senior members of the Palestinian Hamas movement who had been staying there. According to preliminary information, six people were killed in this egregious attack, including an employee of the Qatari Ministry of Internal Affairs, and nationals of the Emirate were affected. It is of grave concern that the Israeli Air Force struck a district of the Qatari capital, where foreign embassies are located — the Russian diplomatic mission, for example, being 600 metres from the site of the attack — as are residential buildings, busy roads and a number of schools and kindergartens. In other words, this massive air strike, carried out in the middle of the working day, at 3.45 p.m. local time, could have claimed the lives of many more innocent people, including our fellow diplomats, their wives and children. There can be no justification for this gross violation of State sovereignty and for putting civilians in grave danger. We wholly agree with the Secretary-General’s assessment that Israel’s attacks on Qatar are unacceptable and an encroachment on the territorial integrity of an independent State. We likewise concur with the Secretary-General’s words about Qatar’s positive role in striving to end the war in the Gaza Strip, which has continued for almost two years. The incident is particularly cynical in that Doha, as one of the key mediators between the Palestinians and the Unfortunately, what happened two days ago is no coincidence; it is the corollary of the utter impunity enjoyed by West Jerusalem, which, time and again, has been testing the boundaries of what is permissible and opening up new horizons for itself, capitalizing on international diplomatic cover from Washington. Moreover, Israel’s arbitrary use of force is cloaked in slogans about imagined threats to the security of the Jewish State from the so-called “seven fronts”. We all remember perfectly well how, in the night of 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the then head of the Hamas Political Bureau, was killed in Tehran. At the time, the leader of the Palestinian movement was in the Islamic Republic of Iran, by official invitation, to attend the ceremony for the inauguration of the elected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. The political assassination pursued the same goal: to deal a serious blow to the indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, which were aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The strike on Qatar, where a major United States military base is located, spelled a fundamentally new stage in the regional escalation. If the Israelis are prepared to eliminate their political opponents in a State with very close ties to their main ally, what is to stop them from taking similar action in any other capital in the world? Why bother with painstaking negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage release when a bullet can simply be put in the interlocutor’s head? The nefarious practice of liquidating prominent political and military figures is not just a crime; it is a desecration of the principles of civilized cooperation among States, entailing the risk of uncontrolled escalation. We call on West Jerusalem to desist from reckless acts of aggression, which are fuelling a spiral of violence in the region. All members of the Council must send a similar message. It appears that it is obvious to all that Washington’s stated goal of so-called “quiet diplomacy” is not only futile but also fraught with fresh escalation in a climate already at boiling point. After all, it is with specific reference to that premise that the United States delegation has been blocking all efforts in the Security Council for nearly two years. It is difficult to identify where lightning needs to strike for Washington to finally recognize that multilateral diplomacy through the Council is not only not an obstacle but is the only available and necessary tool to reverse the situation on the ground. In this connection, we support the focus of the 10 non-permanent members of the Council on advancing a draft Security Council resolution on the situation in Gaza, with an emphasis on the demand for Israel to lift all limitations on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Strip. We trust that this product will also incorporate a call for a ceasefire, without which it will be simply impossible to alleviate the humanitarian situation there. We believe that the adoption of the resolution will be an important and effective measure to alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people. In conclusion, I wish to once again extend solidarity to the people and the leadership of Qatar, who have been targeted by the hawkish military-political Cabinet in Israel. The consolidated and detailed Russian-Arab assessments of this unprovoked act of force and of overall developments in the Middle East were made today in Sochi during the Russian-Gulf Cooperation Council summit. The Security

Let me thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her sobering briefing. We meet today at a tense moment for the Middle East region, in the wake of Tuesday’s Israeli strikes on Hamas targets in Doha. At the outset, let me be clear that this serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar is unacceptable. We condemn these strikes, in line with the press statement (SC/16163) agreed by all Council members. The violation raises serious questions under international law. Denmark expresses its most sincere solidarity with His Excellency Prime Minister Al-Thani, his Government and the people of the State of Qatar. I thank him for his presence here today and for his commitment to peace, mediation and multilateral dialogue. I also welcome His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Safadi and His Excellency Mr. Gargash to the Council. We have said it before, but it remains equally relevant today: with countless lives at stake across the Middle East, it is imperative that all parties exercise maximum restraint. The region simply cannot afford a further escalatory spiral of violence. Its people cannot and should not have to bear any more conflict and trauma. At this critical moment, we call on all parties to refrain from steps that risk igniting tensions and deepening regional instability. Diplomacy and dialogue must remain the first ports of call. Around this table, we all regularly urge restraint. All the while, the war in Gaza continues to rage. To be clear, this war must end immediately. Every effort must be made towards this objective, including from the Council. Every day, the devastating humanitarian consequences are made painfully clear. There is famine in Gaza. People are starving to death in Gaza. Civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. The list of horrors is long. We have a responsibility to act — as a Council, as an international community, as human beings. The immediate priorities remain threefold: an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire; the unconditional, dignified and immediate release of all hostages; and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza. All parties must work urgently towards achieving these aims. Denmark reiterates its firm condemnation of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023. As we have repeated countless times, there can be no justification for this attack or for the undignified treatment of the hostages. And there can be no role for Hamas in Gaza. We have also consistently stressed that Israel’s response must be exercised in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law. In conclusion, peace cannot be built on the rubble of destroyed buildings and cities, but on the firm foundation of dialogue and negotiation — a foundation that Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been diligently and tirelessly working to create. These efforts have Denmark’s full support. They offer a future that conflict never can, a future defined not by fear or by a constant risk of escalation, but by stability for all countries and all people in the region. This is the challenge that the international community, and especially the Council, must rise to meet. This is not only the mandate of the Council, but also the very mission of the Organization. We must spare no effort to achieve it. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I would like to thank Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing today. I would also like to warmly I will make three points today. First, let me underscore this from the outset: the United Kingdom stands in full and unwavering solidarity with Qatar and condemns Israel’s strikes on Doha. These strikes are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar. They risk both further escalation across the region and setting back negotiations for a ceasefire. We offer our condolences to the families and friends of the Qatari personnel who were tragically killed. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and with the injured. Qatar has long been a tireless broker for peace in the Middle East and beyond, and we commend the resolute commitment of His Highness the Amir to championing diplomacy and dialogue. To reiterate, we wholly condemn the strikes on Qatar, which will do nothing to deliver peace in the Middle East or to safeguard Israel’s long-term security. My Prime Minister made this clear to President Herzog when they met yesterday. And like others, I welcome the clear message of support to Qatar that the Council has sent through our press statement (SC/16163) today. Secondly, the United Kingdom has been clear that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and we condemn the 7 October 2023 atrocities in the strongest terms. We reiterate that Hamas must release all the hostages, sign up to an immediate ceasefire deal and commit to disarm. It can play no part in the future governance of Gaza. Thirdly, with each day that passes, the hostages suffer in appalling conditions, and the people of Gaza endure starvation and repeated displacement. This week’s evacuation orders across northern Gaza will worsen the humanitarian catastrophe. The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and today I reiterate that we urge Israel to reconsider immediately. We staunchly support the efforts of Qatar, the United States and Egypt to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of the hostages and bring this conflict to an end. We urge all parties to re-engage meaningfully to reach a negotiated deal. We also need an urgent surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It is abhorrent that famine is unfolding in parts of Gaza City, and we need immediate action to prevent it from spreading further. Israel must lift all restrictions on aid and allow the United Nations to deliver life-saving aid at scale. The only way to achieve lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike is through a political solution. The United Kingdom will continue to work with our partners to develop a framework for long-term peace, consistent with a two- State solution.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. I welcome the many high-level speakers, in particular the Prime Minister of Qatar and the Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries across the region are violated. Security Council resolutions are rejected. General Assembly processes are ignored. An International Court of Justice decision is disregarded, and the Court’s advisory opinions are ignored. Civilians are starved and killed. International mechanisms are flouted. The United Nations is pressured. Humanitarian and medical workers and journalists are attacked. Inhumanity and simple cruelty prevail, along with a sense of complete impunity, and now, negotiators are attacked on foreign soil. I wonder: is this how peace is pursued? Is this really a way to bring the hostages home? The Council has been unequivocal in its support for the role and work of the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and the United States. Everyone around this table supports the process of mediation. What more can be said in the Council? How else can we say that all the red lines have been crossed and that enough is really enough? It is not the attempts by Council members that are preventing solutions. It is allowing this sense of the impunity of Israel to continue. That is why country after country is announcing bilateral measures aimed at getting the Israeli Government to reconsider its current policy and to return to respecting international law obligations. Those measures are our response to persistent violations of international humanitarian law, to impunity and to what we now clearly see  — a flawed commitment to negotiations. All these measures are not gestures. They are not performative actions. These are the sincere acts of countries, leaders and the global public, conscious of our responsibility to humanity and of our promise of never again. On this day of 11 September, when we commemorate the horrible terror attacks on the United States and pay tribute to innocent victims, Slovenia reaffirms its resolute stand against terrorism. We repeat our condemnation of the brutal Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. We take this opportunity to strongly condemn the latest terror attack on civilians in Jerusalem. This is yet another reason for peace efforts to be redoubled. In the words of Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, the urgency has never been greater. This war must end. The suffering must end. In the midst of the latest escalation, Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe continues. The window of opportunity to prevent famine from spreading across the Strip is closing. A new offensive is relentlessly pounding what is left in the middle of the ruins. Instead of packing a backpack to start a new school year, Gaza’s children are forced to pack up what is left of their belongings to be displaced, yet again. Let me, then, state the obvious: we need a ceasefire. The hostages must be released. The hindrance of aid deliveries must end. The negotiations have certainly seen their share of obstacles from both parties, but an escalation of this sort is not contributing to peace. We therefore appeal for a renewed commitment to negotiations in good faith by both parties to the conflict.

Panama appreciates the convening of this emergency meeting and the update provided by Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. We also welcome the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, to whom we express our country’s solidarity with the Qatari people and Government at this uniquely grave juncture at which his country and the Middle East region find themselves. I also welcome the presence of Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, and the representatives of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait and Türkiye, who honour us with their participation here today. Panama strongly rejects and condemns the unfettered increase in violence in the Middle East. The attacks on civilians in Jerusalem on Monday, for which Hamas claimed responsibility, attest to the extremism and terror that that group has been unleashing for decades. The subsequent attack by Israel on Doha on Tuesday, which This reality shows us that continuing to resort to the use of force as the sole option has not offered and will not offer a way out of the current war, nor has it resolved, or will it be able to resolve, the root causes that have driven the Israeli- Palestinian conflict for nearly eight decades. On the contrary, the use of force has entrenched an extremist mindset, fuelling a cycle of violence that hinders, impedes and blocks any path to a political solution. The result of those acts has been greater uncertainty, greater risk for the entire civilian population, including the hostages that remain in Gaza, and the weakening of the mediation process led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. Attacking a State like Qatar, which is acting as a mediator and which has been the headquarters for negotiations aimed at achieving peace, deals a direct blow to the possibility of establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, a vital condition to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population and to create secure conditions for the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all the hostages, whose fate is — to the contrary — now at greater risk. These irresponsible actions are not simply a threat to the security of the civilian population. They also imperilled several accredited diplomatic missions in Doha, including the Panamanian Embassy, located less than 800 metres from the site of the attack. We wish to express our sincere condolences to the families of the Qatari officials and citizens victims of this attack. This type of incident, which could have resulted in victims from other friendly countries, undermines international efforts to guarantee that we have a stable, safe environment crucial for dialogue and negotiation. What occurred in Doha is part of a spiral of violence that has also been reflected in the attacks waged against a humanitarian flotilla in Tunisia and more generally in the devastating situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Panama prioritizes negotiation and dialogue as the only legitimate pathways towards a lasting peace. With that in mind, we invite the parties to demonstrate through their actions that they are indeed seeking a genuine peace agreement and not seeking to extend the conflict. Moreover, we underline the fact that no goal, however legitimate it may be believed to be, can justify the use of means that are contrary to international law or the protection of human life. Panama asks the parties to exercise the utmost restraint and urges them to step up their efforts to urgently achieve a sustainable ceasefire, facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and guarantee the safe, adequate and sustained access of vital humanitarian aid to Gaza. The experience of the temporary truce, however short and fragile it was, demonstrated that it is possible to halt human suffering, just as it is also possible to allow the effective delivery of humanitarian aid in an unfettered way and to make progress on releasing the hostages. The notion of justifying and using violence according to the logic that the end justifies the means, whatever they may be, and that those means can be used against anyone, anytime, anywhere and in any way, is concerning. In the case of the Middle East, that logic has led and will lead only to more destruction and suffering. The indiscriminate hunting of enemies does not lead to peace. On the contrary, they prolong war and exacerbate the suffering of the innocent people trapped amid the siege. History has taught us that peace is something negotiated and made with Panama reiterates that there is no military solution. Only a comprehensive, just and lasting political process based on international law, the relevant United Nations resolutions and the principle of two States and their peoples living in peace and security will be able to guarantee the stability of the region and the safety and security of all.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this emergency meeting of the Security Council, and I also thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. Although in very difficult circumstances, I welcome to the Council His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and express not only the full solidarity of Sierra Leone but also its commendation for Qatar’s valuable global mediation efforts in conflict situations, particularly in the Middle East, as well as in Africa. I also welcome to the Council His Excellency Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Sierra Leone notes the identical letters dated 9 September 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary- General and the President of the Security Council (S/2025/563), which draws the Council’s attention to the grave incident that has prompted our deliberations. Sierra Leone has consistently upheld the conviction that the Middle East conflict and in particular the Palestine question must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Article 2, paragraph 3, obliges all Member States to settle their disputes by negotiations, mediation, conciliation, arbitration or other peaceful means while refraining from the threat or use of force, in a manner that does not endanger international peace and security. It is in this light that Sierra Leone is deeply alarmed by the admission by the Prime Minister of the State of Israel that it was his Government that attacked Doha, the capital of Qatar, a State playing an active role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing escalation of the conflict in Gaza. Qatar’s facilitation of dialogue has been indispensable to sustaining fragile ceasefire arrangements and preventing further escalation in Gaza. An assault on the territory of a mediator is not only a violation of its sovereignty, but also a direct strike at the very architecture of diplomacy. As the Secretary-General has rightly stressed, all parties should be working towards a permanent ceasefire, not undermining it. Sierra Leone is gravely alarmed by this flagrant breach of international law. We strongly condemn Israel’s attack in Doha, and we support the press statement just agreed by Council members (SC/16163), which emphasizes the vital role that Qatar continues to play in mediation efforts in the region, alongside Egypt and the United States. We take note of the communication issued on behalf of the member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which describes the strike as a “serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents” (S/2025/565, annex). Such actions constitute a grave breach of Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are cornerstones of our collective security system. As we strongly condemn the Doha attack by the State of Israel, we commend the restraint demonstrated by the State of Qatar. Sierra Leone calls for the continuation of the exercise of maximum restraint, the peaceful resolution of disputes and full respect Beyond the violation of sovereignty, Sierra Leone is gravely disturbed by reports of targeted assassinations of individuals who should be considered protected persons under international law, particularly international humanitarian law. Equally troubling are reports of such assassinations in residential areas. The Geneva Conventions — particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention — and their Additional Protocols, clearly prohibit violence against civilians and all persons not taking a direct part in hostilities. The Geneva Conventions explicitly forbid violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, against those taking no active part in hostilities. Mediators, negotiators, medical personnel, journalists, humanitarian staff and civilians remain under the protection of international law. Willful killing of such persons constitutes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime. We are appalled by the deliberate targeting of civilians and mediators under safe conduct, acts that undermine the distinction between combatants and non-combatants, including those not taking part in hostilities, with no continuous combat function and outside areas of hostilities. We must be clear, international law does not recognize revenge. International law recognizes only lawful self-defence, the use of force against imminent unlawful attack or collective action authorized by the Security Council. Acts motivated by revenge or retaliation are illegal. No justification can excuse deliberate attacks on those who are not engaged in active combat functions. These developments point to a larger challenge confronting the international community: the persistence of impunity in the face of serious violations of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. When such acts are met with silence or selective responses, perpetrators are emboldened to continue, thereby eroding the credibility of and weakening the rules-based international legal order. For the Council, failure to respond risks reducing this body to a bystander in the very crises it is mandated to address and would amount to a referendum on the system we have built. Sierra Leone therefore urges the Council to reaffirm unequivocally the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar and all Member States to ensure that unlawful assassinations of protected persons are thoroughly investigated, to hold perpetrators accountable under international law and to redouble efforts to bring the current conflict to an end through genuine good-faith negotiations leading to a just and lasting peace. As we speak to the violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, in the State of Palestine, in both the West Bank and Gaza, the inhumanity continues with the ongoing hostilities. We remain gravely concerned about the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, with the declared famine, bombardments and evacuation orders in Gaza City, mass displacement and acts and rhetoric evincing genocidal intent. We are equally gravely concerned about the plight of hostages and recall with condemnation the 8 September attack on Israeli civilians at a Jerusalem bus stop, in which six people were killed and eight others wounded. Violence on either side will only breed more violence, deepen suffering and erode prospects for peace. We reiterate the imperative for an immediate ceasefire, the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages. The Council must demand a ceasefire, particularly when a mediator State has been so flagrantly attacked. The peoples of the Middle East and indeed the peoples of the world look to the Council for leadership, consistency and resolve. Upholding the Charter is not optional; it is a binding obligation. Sovereignty must be respected, civilians and other protected As the Irish poet William Butler Yeats warned in The Second Coming, immortalized in Things Fall Apart by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, “[t]hings fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world”. The United Nations is the centre of the post-1945 multilateral rules-based system and the Security Council its nucleus for peace and security. We must therefore act now with unity and determination. Anything less would betray our collective responsibility and the trust that the peoples of the world have placed in us. This system as we know it risks falling apart, and anarchy would indeed be loosed upon the world.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this briefing with the requisite urgency. I welcome the participation of His Excellency the Prime Minister of Qatar and His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan in today’s meeting. I also thank the delegations of Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia for requesting the meeting and express appreciation to Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for the important information provided regarding Israel’s military strike on Doha on Tuesday. Guyana condemns this violent act by Israel, which is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct and unprovoked assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar. We note the destruction caused by the attack and that a Qatari national was killed. We express our full solidarity with the Amir and the people of the State of Qatar. International law is under threat, and the Middle East region has unfortunately been the theatre of too many frequent and serious violations of international law. Syria, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon and now Qatar have all suffered violations of their sovereignty and territorial integrity by Israel following unilateral decisions by the latter to militarily strike these countries. Just yesterday, we received reports of Israel’s attack on Yemen, involving strikes on civilian and residential facilities and the killing of several persons. Guyana reiterates its strong condemnation of these violations of international law and calls for full accountability for these crimes. The culture of impunity must not be allowed to take root, and this is precisely what is happening in the face of the Council’s inability to respond decisively to these breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. Israel’s protracted war in Gaza and its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory remain at the centre of the instability in the Middle East. Ending the war in Gaza and resolving the question of Palestine are therefore urgent priorities that the Council must advance pursuant to its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. We also stress that the efforts of mediators to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of the remaining hostages are seriously undermined and complicated by actions such as those taken by Israel on Tuesday. The success of the mediation efforts depends on the good-faith engagement of all parties. The bombing of representatives of one party in the territory of one of the mediators risks setting back peace efforts. Israel’s actions also belie its stated commitment to bringing the hostages home. The State of Qatar has been a consistent ally in fighting terrorism and has been instrumental in the mediation efforts alongside the United States and Egypt to bring about a diplomatic solution to the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages still held there. Israel’s recent actions do not in any way help those efforts. In the context of the foregoing, Guyana makes the following four appeals. First, the State of Qatar must be redressed for the unlawful act committed against it by Israel. The international order is premised on the rule of law and States cannot simply contravene international law and the Charter of the United Nations in pursuit Secondly, Israel’s brutal war on Gaza must end immediately, unconditionally and permanently. The catastrophic and human-made suffering to which civilians are subjected and which has now escalated to famine is a daily and painful reminder of how much this war continues to cost Palestinian civilians. Guyana urges the Security Council to take appropriate and urgent action in keeping with its responsibility to protect Palestinian civilians. Thirdly, Guyana appeals to Israel to cease its warmongering in the already volatile Middle East. Too many fires have been ignited in the region, presenting serious risks to international peace and security. Israel must abide scrupulously by its obligations under international law. Fourthly and finally, we need strong political will to resolve the question of Palestine in a just, peaceful and comprehensive manner. Eight decades is too protracted a period to have an entire nation living in a state of flux marked by recurrent cycles of violence and oppression. This goes against all the values of the United Nations. Until we settle the Palestinian question, our work will not be truly comprehensive in reach. We urge all Council members and the wider membership of the United Nations to resolve that the eightieth year of our Organization will be the year in which we take strong and positive action for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for peace and self-determination. Guyana resolves to do its part to this end.

At the outset, I wish to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, for her briefing, which clears sets out the facts. I welcome the presence among us of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, as well as His Excellency Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan and His Excellency Mr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates. I also welcome the representatives of Israel, Türkiye, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt. I thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this emergency meeting, which France supports. As was clearly expressed by the President of the Republic of France, the strikes claimed by Israel, which struck Qatari soil on 9 September, are unacceptable, regardless of the motivation. It is important that the Security Council condemn them. France reaffirms its commitment to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We express our full solidarity with the Amir of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as with the Qatari people. The President of the Republic of France had the opportunity yesterday to assure the Amir of our full support. These strikes represent a grave violation of international law. Let us recall that the use of force, anywhere and at all times, is strictly regulated by the Charter of the United Nations. These strikes pose a grave risk to regional stability, which has already been demonstrated by an alarming escalation of tensions in Lebanon, Syria and the entire region. It is in the interest of all parties, including Israel, to avoid a new cycle of violence that could have devastating consequences for the entire region. We call upon all parties to exercise the utmost restraint. Moreover, these strikes Achieving a ceasefire and the release of all hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza must remain our top priority. Once again, France reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the heinous crimes committed by Hamas, a terrorist movement, and we call upon this movement to release the hostages and to renounce violence. The permanent state of war in Gaza cannot continue. France calls upon all parties to recommit in good faith to negotiations to end this war in Gaza. To that end, we welcome the tireless efforts of Qatar, which, alongside Egypt and the United States of America, has been engaged in critical mediation efforts, and we are grateful to Qatar, a key mediator, for its continued engagement in this regard. There is an alternative to the cycle of violence, namely, a political settlement based on a two-State solution. This is the only way to ensure lasting peace and security for the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as for the entire region. This solution hinges on the recognition of a sovereign State of Palestine, with renewed and reformed governance. It requires the disarmament of Hamas, its exclusion from the future governance of Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization mission in the Gaza Strip. It also requires the regional integration of Israel and, ultimately, the establishment of a robust security architecture for the entire region. France will continue to work towards achieving a two-State solution, as it did during the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in July in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia. The New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (A/CONF.243/2025/1), the outcome of the Conference, sets out a unique road map to make the two-State solution a reality. The Conference, which will take its next step on 22 September during the high-level week of the General Assembly, is generating unprecedented political momentum for peace and security for all in the region. This is the path towards peace.

I thank Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia for their initiative in organizing this meeting and welcome the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan, His Excellency Mr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates, and I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. On 9 September, Israel launched an attack on Doha, in flagrant violation of the territorial sovereignty and national security of Qatar, international law and the Charter of the United Nations, undermining efforts to achieve peace. China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns such an act. It is well known that Qatar, as an important mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, has made great efforts to promote the ceasefire and restore peace in Gaza. The international community greatly appreciates those efforts. We note that on 7 September, the United States of America put forward a new ceasefire proposal and claimed that Israel had agreed to it. However, just two days later, a Hamas delegation that was discussing the ceasefire proposal was attacked by Israel. Such an act of bad faith and irresponsibility and the deliberate sabotage of the negotiations is indeed despicable. China is deeply concerned that the attack could lead to the further escalation of tensions in the region. We must point out that this incident is closely related to the long-standing unbalanced positions of some non-regional countries regarding the issue of the Middle East. We would like to advise these countries, in the interest of regional peace and stability, to take a fair I would like to reiterate that military means and the indiscriminate use of force are not the solution to this problem, and that an immediate ceasefire is the right way to save lives and bring the hostages home. China strongly calls on all parties concerned, in particular Israel, to make more positive efforts to stop the fighting and resume negotiations, rather than the opposite. Israel must immediately cease all military operations in Gaza, fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law as an occupying Power, fully restore humanitarian access and support the relief operations of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies. The Gaza conflict has been going on for almost two years, resulting in an appalling and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. During this period, we have witnessed time and time again the violation of international law and the undermining of the basic norms of international relations. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle, and the Middle East cannot remain in a state of perpetual war. As the primary organ for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council has the responsibility to safeguard international order and the rule of law and to promote regional peace and stability. The Council is now discussing a draft resolution on the humanitarian issue of Gaza. China supports the Council’s immediate action to end the fighting in Gaza and to ease the humanitarian catastrophe and calls on Council members and the international community to make joint efforts to this end.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the Republic of Korea. I, too, thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. It is deeply troubling that another unacceptable incident has occurred amid the ongoing instability and tensions in the region. The Security Council’s press statement (SC/16163) released today clearly exemplifies the collective voice of the international community. The Israeli attacks targeting Qatari soil on Tuesday represent yet another grave violation of international law. One of the core principles under the Charter of the United Nations is clear: sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected in international relations. The Republic of Korea is appalled that the attacks, allegedly targeting Hamas’ leadership, yet also killing a member of the Qatari Internal Security Force, happened in a residential area of Doha, the capital of the key mediating country, Qatar. The Republic of Korea calls for the full respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every country, as well as immediate de-escalation in the region. International law cannot be selective, it must be strictly observed by all States. Further regional instability helps no one in the region at this vital juncture. Also unacceptable is the fact that these attacks are hampering ongoing negotiations to secure an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages brutally held by Hamas. The attacks were committed just a few days after a new ceasefire proposal has been put forward. Hamas committed atrocious terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, which we continue to condemn in the strongest terms. However, Tuesday’s Doha attacks, directly targeting its negotiating team, do not help advance the talks, which stand at an inflection point. The incident was also grievous as it may have a significant negative impact on the common efforts by the international community to ease the extreme humanitarian suffering of Palestinian civilians, as well as Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The international community, including Members of the Council, are seeking measures, either multilaterally or bilaterally, to expand the desperately needed humanitarian aid to those civilians in Gaza. It is lamentable that the Government of Israel chose to pursue another act of hostility, rather than actively participating, as a direct party to the conflict, in global humanitarian efforts to halt the famine. We all know the best solution to restore stability in the region. An immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all remaining 48 hostages and an urgent surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza are all crucial for underpinning peace and stability in the region. After yet another dangerous escalation in the region, we now hear, once again, the desperate voices of the long-suffering hostage families pleading for the finalization of a deal. We must listen. The war in Gaza must end now. All hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected. And international law must be respected, under any circumstances. We must chart a new path towards regional de-escalation and peace. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. Sheikh Al-Thani (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me, Mr. President, to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Council this month. We thank you for quickly responding to our request to convene this urgent meeting. We especially would like to thank Algeria, Pakistan, Somalia, the United Kingdom and France that asked, on our behalf, for this meeting to be convened. We also thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, for her briefing. We thank the Council members for adopting the press release (SC/16163) today. We appreciate their solidarity with Qatar, which we heard in their statements, after the treacherous Israeli attack on Doha that the press statement condemned. The attack occurred on the soil of a main mediator. The statement stressed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We address the Security Council today in the light of an extremely dangerous escalation which constitutes a threat to international peace and security and regional peace and security. This is why it is at the core of the mandate of the Security Council, pursuant to the United Nations Charter. The treacherous Israeli attack, at 3.46 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, targeted a residential area allocated by the State to the negotiating teams. This is part of our ongoing negotiation efforts. These residences house the negotiating team of Hamas and their families. The residential areas are known to all. All those who are engaged in negotiations, even diplomats and journalists that have held meetings with the negotiating team, knows where these residences are. We took measures to verify what happened and ascertained that the casualties included Badr Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari, who was 22 years old. He This was in a residential area and the attacks terrorized those who lived there. This area houses schools and different diplomatic residencies. The attack is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a full State Member of the United Nations, committed by an extremist leadership, far from the behaviour of civilized States that believe in peace. Violating the sovereignty of a State that is making tireless efforts to achieve a ceasefire and save lives is a real test for the whole international community. Led by bloodthirsty extremists, Israel crossed all red lines imposed by international norms and laws, and even the most basic moral principles of interaction not only with States but also amongst human beings. It is no longer possible to predict what Israel might do. How can Israeli officials visit us for negotiations and we host them on our soil, while their leadership was plotting to bomb it days later, a plot they carried out? Have Council members heard of a State attacking a mediator State with fighter jets and trying during the negotiation process to kill the negotiating teams in the meeting venues? And now their Prime Minister has come out with shameful justifications and wrongful comparisons, trying to legitimize his action, which has been condemned by the whole world. The Prime Minister should have recalled the model of the Taliban. They had a political bureau in Doha as a channel of communication that led to the achievement of an agreement for peace in Afghanistan, which ended the war after painful decades. The United States never targeted their own negotiators during the negotiations over all those years. On the contrary, the world saw the success of my country, in partnership with the United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump, to end the longest war in the history of the United States in 2020. This is the approach that we are pursuing. This is the approach that the Prime Minister of Israel is targeting and trying to distort by cheap justifications for emotional exploitation. These continued violations of international law and this behaviour, undermining all principles for relations amongst human beings, prove only one thing: that the current leaders of Israel are arrogant and megalomaniac, because they are certain that they enjoy impunity and can avoid accountability. In addition to the genocide in Gaza and the unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the Strip, in respect of which the international community has yet to take any dissuasive action, their destructive hands are now striking Sovereign States and toying with security in the region uncontrollably. The hubris has become so entrenched that it has reached the level of public expressions not only of the illusions of reshaping the region by force, but also of the metaphysical motives and fundamentalist ideas that drive extremists in the current Israeli Government. This is what they say in public to their masses, thinking that no one but their fans is listening to them. Needless to say, the countries and peoples of the region cannot accept this behaviour and its concomitant narrative. We fully believe in mediation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and Qatar’s role is appreciated throughout the region and around the world. Qatar’s experience proved that its mediation, in partnership with that of Egypt and United States, has led to tangible results and achieved the release of 148 Israeli and foreign hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza, which was a rare glimmer of hope in this bloody conflict. But the attack against our territory, while we were busy with the mediation, clearly revealed the premeditated intentions of Israel to abort any attempt to achieve peace and to perpetuate the human suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people who are being subjected to unimaginable suffering. The attack also shows that the extremists who currently govern Israel do not care about the lives of hostages, and I stand before you today, Mr. President, and I urge the Council to bear its historic responsibility. Silence in the face of the law of the jungle and the targeting of a sovereign country in broad daylight undermines the norms of international relations and threatens the prospects of any peace process in our region. The continuation of such attacks does not only affect Qatar but also is a clear threat to any country that is working on achieving peace and undermines trust in the United Nations system itself. The State of Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, stresses that it will continue its humanitarian and diplomatic role, without any hesitation, wherever this role could lead to stopping the bloodshed. At the same time, it will not waiver with regard to any attack on its sovereignty and security. It reserves its legitimate right to respond via tools guaranteed by international law. We in Qatar call for peace, not war. We chose peace as our approach, and we will not be deterred by those who call for war and destruction. Before the Security Council, we present these facts, and we remind the Council that while we are discussing today the attack on the State of Qatar, we are also debating an attack against all diplomatic efforts to reach peaceful solutions. The only way to peace is through negotiations, and that starts with a ceasefire and the release of all detainees and hostages, and with ensuring the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and the lifting of the blockade against it. Allow me, on behalf of all peace-loving peoples around the world, to be optimistic. We cannot succumb to the arrogance of extremists. We must continue to pursue a durable peace through the two-State solution and through the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian State, on its Palestinian national soil, in accordance with international resolutions. Two States and two peoples living side by side in peace — this will be achieved only through partners who believe in these principles.

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

On 9 September, Israel carried out a precise and targeted strike in Doha. The strike targeted Hamas leaders who, for years, have planned and directed attacks against Israel, many times making these directives from luxury confines in Doha. These terrorists were the sole target of the operation. The men targeted were not legitimate politicians, diplomats or representatives. They were the masterminds of terror. They orchestrated the massacre on 7 October 2023, murdering civilians, kidnapping children, raping women and wiping out entire communities. As the smoke was still rising from the massacre, even as the attack was still unfolding, Hamas leaders in Qatar appeared live on television, proudly broadcasting their celebration. While Israelis hid in safe rooms, fled from gunfire and endured murder, kidnapping and rape, Hamas leaders feasted and congratulated themselves in real time. These are the same men who called for jihad to escalate the conflict. They called for blood, not peace. They called for terror, not negotiation, and the terror has not stopped. Just days ago, at Ramot Junction in Jerusalem, Hamas terrorists opened fire on a bus stop crowded with children and adults. Six innocent people were murdered, among them a 25-year-old man who had immigrated from Spain, had recently married and was building his future in Israel; a rabbi who had dedicated his life to teaching the next generation; and two residents of the community, struck down in their own neighbourhood. Among the wounded was a woman, eight months pregnant, who was This is what terrorism looks like: mothers clutching babies, a bus stop turned into a battlefield, a community scared in seconds. This is a reality we face in Israel. Terror raises its ugly head almost every single day. Let me remind the Council that there can be no immunity for terrorists. Hamas immediately praised the killers as heroic and exceptional, later claiming full responsibility for the attack and calling the massacre of innocent people a natural response. There is nothing natural about this. It is terror, pure and simple. Today, 48 innocent people are still held hostage by Hamas. Their families live in pain daily. For more than 700 days, innocent people have been trapped in Hamas captivity — 700 days of cruelty and abuse. Hamas has used them as bargaining chips, turning their suffering into currency. But let me be clear: there is no immunity for terrorism — not for those who commit it and not for those who enable it. Israel has agreed to President Trump’s ceasefire proposal. We are ready to stop the fighting. But Hamas refuses. They keep the world waiting. They are in no rush. They have the time and are indifferent to the human suffering that their delay causes. Who suffers from this refusal? It is not the leaders of Hamas, living abroad in the Ritz- Carlton in Doha. There, they do not suffer. They have the time. But the hostages suffer, languishing in their cells, and the people of Gaza are used as human shields. From the start, the Hamas strategy has been to embed its weapons among civilians. They hide rockets in schools, establish command centres in hospitals and dig tunnels under homes. They put their own people in harm’s way, then cry crocodile tears when civilians are hurt. Our fight is with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza and not with the State of Qatar. Israel will continue to take precautions to protect innocent lives. That is the difference between us and those who glorify massacre and terror. Like in the Bible, like Cain in the Bible, who was marked for the murder of his brother, so too are Hamas leaders marked for their crimes. It does not matter where they hide, whether in the tunnels in Gaza or in a luxury hotel abroad. The mark of Cain is upon them. For too long, Hamas leaders have been sheltered, not only in Doha but also in Beirut, Tehran and elsewhere, parading as politicians and statesmen while acting as terrorists. They are treated like celebrities when, in reality, they are commanders of massacre and barbarism. This false disguise of legitimacy gave them freedom to move, to buy weapons, to recruit through so-called humanitarian networks and to spread propaganda on international platforms that should have rejected them. This strike sends a message that should echo across the Chamber: there is no sanctuary for terrorists  — not in Gaza, not in Tehran, not in Doha. There is no immunity for terrorists. And yet, here in the Council, some members have chosen to give Hamas legitimacy, even protection. Israel will not. We will act against the leaders of terror, wherever they are hiding. We have heard today in the Council allegations about a breach of the territorial sovereignty of Qatar, but one must ask where were these concerns when sovereignty was violated by terror itself? Where were they on 8 October 2023, when Hizbullah launched rockets across Israel’s border? Where were they when Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport? Where were they just days ago, when a Houthi drone crashed into the arrival hall of Ramon Airport, injuring civilians? How can anyone hide behind allegations and appeal to the principles of international law, while giving legitimacy to those who openly glorify 7 October 2023 and continue to plot terror? The world has faced moments like this before. Today the world remembers the devastating terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. That tragic day, as 7 October 2023 was for Israel, was a day of fire and blood. In the aftermath of 9/11, the countries that uphold freedom, equality and democracy in the Council stood shoulder to shoulder. Two weeks later, the Council adopted resolution 1373 (2001), which indicated plainly that no State may harbour terrorists; no State may fund them; no State may give them safe haven — I urge all Council members to read this resolution — and that any Government that does so breaks the Council’s binding obligations. That principle was clear then; it must be upheld today. And when Bin Laden was eliminated in Pakistan, the question asked was not, “Why target a terrorist on foreign soil?” No one asked that question. The question was, “Why was a terrorist given shelter at all?” The same question must be asked today. There was no immunity for Bin Laden, and there can be no immunity for Hamas. And in facing terror, history shows that members of the Council have done the very same. From 2014 to 2022, France struck terrorists in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. In 2014 and 2015, the United Kingdom carried out air strikes in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham. I therefore ask — if these actions were justified then, why is Israel being singled out now? Why are claims concerning sovereignty invoked only against Israel and ignored when others act to defend themselves? Is Israeli blood worthless? The question to ask is not, “why is Israel targeting the mastermind of terror?”, but “why are they being sheltered abroad while hostages starve in captivity and Gazans are left to suffer?” Israel’s fight is not only Israel’s. It is the fight of all who believe in democracy against those who worship death and violence — the fight of light against darkness, of civilization against barbarism and of justice against terror. We will continue until the hostages are free, until our people are safe and until terror can no longer find sanctuary in any corner of the world because there is no immunity for terrorists, nor will there ever be.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the rotating presidency of the Security Council, and I thank the Under-Secretary-General for her briefing. A rogue Government, soaked in the blood of innocents, naturally disposed for extremism and hatred, indifferent to international law and impervious to humaneness, considers itself above the law and is relying on brutality to impose a racist ideology and achieve expansionist goals that threaten peace and security in the region and worldwide. Such is the reality of the Israeli Government, and it is time that the international community took immediate and effective action to curb its arrogance and shield the entire region from the catastrophic consequences of its actions. Over the past 23 months, Israel has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza. It has taken the lives of 540 humanitarian aid workers and 247 journalists. It has used starvation as a weapon. The famine in Gaza, which it created, has resulted in the deaths of 411 Palestinians, including 142 children. Israel has turned Gaza into killing fields, where human beings and humaneness are obliterated. Killing and death have become fodder for propaganda by the occupation troops. The killing of more than 100 Israel is expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. It protects the terrorism of settlers, who launch an average of four terrorist attacks per day on Palestinians and is confiscating more Palestinian land. It is laying siege to the economy and to the very life of the Palestinian people and their legitimate leadership, thereby destroying all chances of achieving a just and lasting peace. Today, hours before this meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister boasted that he had authorized the construction of a new illegal settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory. He boasted that he has prevented the establishment of a Palestinian State and that he is destroying all chances of achieving peace and sacrificing the future of all the peoples of the region, including his own people, to more conflicts and wars. Israel is also destabilizing Lebanon, occupying more Syrian territory and creating strife aimed at plunging Syria into chaos and conflict. In another blatant violation of international law and a dangerous escalation, Israel has violated the sovereignty of the brotherly State of Qatar, launching a cowardly attack on its capital, Doha, in a crude embodiment of treachery against a country that has been working continuously, in partnership with the brotherly Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, to reach an agreement on an exchange that establishes a permanent ceasefire, ends the suffering and opens the door for a return to diplomacy to achieve peace and security for all. We condemn this treacherous and brutal aggression against Qatar, and as His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein ibn Abdullah affirmed to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Jordan stands fully with Qatar in all the steps that it is taking to protect its security, sovereignty and the safety of its citizens. Our security and that of Qatar are one and the same. Qatar’s stability and the stability of the region are one and the same. We have a shared vision, and Qatar’s choice and our choice are perfectly clear. Our vision and our choice are a secure and stable Middle East that enjoys a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that upholds the Palestinian people’s right to life, freedom and statehood, guarantees the security of Israelis, Palestinians and all peoples of the region and replaces conflict with cooperation and despair with hope. The Israeli Government and its extremists are lying in all the allegations that they make to justify their betrayal of Qatar, after all its efforts to achieve an agreement on an exchange and end the war. They lie when they claim that they are surrounded by those who want to destroy them. All Arab countries are committed to achieving a just and lasting peace that guarantees Israel’s security and normalizes its relations in the region, in the context of implementing the two-State solution that ends the occupation and leads to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State on the Palestinian national territory along the 4 June 1967 borders, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, to live in security and peace alongside Israel. Positive engagement by Israel with the Arab Peace Initiative has been awaited since the year 2000. The declaration of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which was organized by the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic in July and attended by 125 countries, contains an unequivocal affirmation that a just peace is our choice. The upcoming meeting here at the United The Council has the responsibility to protect peace and security, and it possesses the tools to do so. Use these tools, apply international law and the Charter of the United Nations, which are the basis of the Council’s legitimacy. Use these tools to compel the acceptance of the agreement on an exchange that Qatar, Egypt and the United States have worked on. Use them to stop the aggression on Gaza, to end the famine, to enforce the delivery of humanitarian assistance, to protect what remains of the credibility of international law and international humanitarian law, to restore faith that humanitarian values and international law are meant to be applied without discrimination or selectivity, to confirm that there is no immunity for an aggressor and that no State is above the law, to revive the hope that conflict is not the region’s destiny and that a just peace is available and a common goal for all of us, one which we are capable of achieving, provided that there is the will to do so. The message that Israel sent with its aggression against Qatar is that it will continue its aggression. It will continue to violate the sovereignty of States, it will continue to violate international law, it will continue to kill innocent people, it will continue to impose famine on Gaza, and it will continue to deprive more than 600,000 students in Gaza of their right to study because it enjoys an immunity that has granted it impunity and allowed it to get away with all these crimes. The injustice has gone too far. End it before it is too late.

I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.

I would like to begin by thanking the Republic of Korea for promptly convening this emergency meeting. I would also like to thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo for her comprehensive briefing. The United Arab Emirates endorses the statement that Kuwait will deliver on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with statements from the Group of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Group. The high-level participation in this meeting clearly underscores the grave concern with which we view this Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar. The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the blatant Israeli attack against the State of Qatar, which represents a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and of the Gulf States’ security. It is a serious assault on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and it is an irresponsible escalation that threatens regional stability and international peace and security. Yesterday, the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Doha. He reaffirmed our complete solidarity with Qatar, its leadership and its people and our firm support for all measures that Qatar takes to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and the safety of its people. The Security Council’s continued failure to act decisively against repeated Israeli violations of fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter will undoubtedly have severe consequences for regional and international peace. This unprecedented attack against Qatar also seriously undermines prospects for peace and for ending the war in Gaza. Qatar, together with Egypt and the United States, has played a leading role in efforts to secure a ceasefire, to release the hostages and detainees and return them to their loved ones, and to resume unhindered humanitarian aid at scale. These reckless, belligerent actions will deliver to neither Israel nor the region our We must work together towards a better future for the people of our region, one that is built on justice, coexistence, shared prosperity and good-neighbourly relations, free from extremist ideologies of any kind. As we all strive for a just and lasting peace in the region, the attacks on the State of Qatar further inflame an already explosive situation. With our gathering today, we reaffirm the centrality of international law and the sovereignty of States, as well as the wisdom required of all of us to achieve peace and security. Today Qatar does not stand alone. The Council spoke with one voice to condemn aggression. Our collective voice must make a difference against these unlawful violations of international law.

I now give the floor to the representative of Türkiye.

I have the honour to deliver the following statement on behalf of the member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in my capacity as its Chair. Let me express our appreciation to you, Mr. President, for the prompt convening this meeting, following the Israeli attack, which targeted the residential headquarters of members of the Hamas Political Bureau in Doha on Tuesday, 9 September, resulting in the deaths of several persons, including one or more Qatari citizens, and leaving many others injured in the residential area. The OIC condemns in the strongest terms this despicable and unwarranted attack against the State of Qatar, in flagrant violation of its territorial sovereignty and national security. There is no doubt that this dastardly action constitutes a blatant violation of the norms of international law and, certainly, the Charter of the United Nations, much as it represents an overt threat to both the security of the Middle East region and, indeed, international peace and security. Indeed, this attack represents State terrorism and is part of a pattern of systematic policies and ongoing efforts by Israel to destabilize the region. We express our full solidarity with the State of Qatar during this critical period, and we stand united in support of the right and duty of the State Qatar to respond decisively to any reckless breach or aggression that threatens its security and jeopardizes regional stability. We also support Qatar as it takes the necessary measures, including political, diplomatic and legal measures, to protect its citizens and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We commend the tireless and sincere efforts made by the State of Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, in the areas of mediation, de-escalation and peaceful resolution of disputes in the region and beyond. These efforts are crucial to maintaining international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. We appreciate the commitment of the State of Qatar to continue its steadfast and constructive approach of standing with its brothers and friends, and in advocating for just humanitarian causes, thereby strengthening the foundations of international peace and security. In this regard, the OIC calls on the Security Council to take firm measures in the face of this unjustified use of armed force against the sovereignty of Qatar, an act that constitutes an obvious threat to international peace and security. Accordingly, we call on the Council to hold Israel accountable for this act of aggression. We recall the unwavering position of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, pursuant to its Charter and its various summit and ministerial resolutions, which firmly rejects any aggression against the sovereignty and security of any of its members. We call on the international community to strongly condemn this illegal attack against Qatar as a way of promoting, supporting and defending the noble principles of peace and security within the global setting.

I now give the floor to the representative of Iraq.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. We also express our gratitude to the Republic of Panama for assuming the presidency of the Security Council last month. We also express our deep appreciation for the efforts made to hold this emergency session. The Middle East region is currently on a dangerous slope as a result of the reckless ongoing actions of the Israeli entity. At a time when voices increasingly calling for calm, de-escalation, stepped-up diplomatic efforts and an end to the ongoing bombardment of the occupied Gaza Strip and the series of crimes being perpetrated, the Israeli entity is once again deliberately trying to drag the region and the world down a dangerous path with another flagrant attack that on Tuesday, 9 September, targeted residential buildings where a number of members of the Hamas Political Bureau reside in Doha. The attack resulted in several deaths, including that of a Qatari citizen, and a number of injuries. This happened in a residential area containing a school and houses. We stress that this attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar. These repeated attacks by the Israeli entity must be regarded as acts of aggression against the entire region and a manifest threat to international peace and security. We call upon the international community to shoulder its legal and moral obligations in the face of these attacks. We stress the need for hard and fast international positions, especially in the Security Council. This attack is an instance of State terrorism. It comes in the context of systematic policies and continuous attempts by the Israeli entity to undermine security and stability in the region. We cannot take lightly this reckless behaviour, this constant toying with the security of the region and these attacks on the security and sovereignty of States. The Group of Arab States condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on Doha, which posed a threat to the safety and security of civilians and violated the safety, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Qatari State. We support the State of Qatar within the framework of its right and duty to address firmly any reckless violation or aggression that affects its security or threatens the stability of the region. We support Qatar in reserving its right to respond to this flagrant attack and to take all measures necessary to protect its people and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. That includes political, diplomatic and legal measures. We commend the tireless and sincere efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar in the areas of mediation, de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the region within the framework of maintenance of international peace and security The foundations of protecting regional and international security, which are the Council’s responsibility, require us to take a stand today to stop these attacks immediately, hold accountable those who threaten our security and stability, hold the Israeli entity legally and politically responsible for these irrational and reckless acts and take all measures to stop these violations and ensure that they do not recur.

I now give the floor to the representative of Kuwait.

I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the members of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and my own country, the State of Kuwait. We congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, and we would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the previous presidency under the leadership of the Republic of Panama. We also thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. Today we make our joint statement, affirming our unequivocal Gulf solidarity with the brotherly State of Qatar and our categorical rejection of any violation of its sovereignty, security and stability. We recall that our firm collective position holds Israel fully responsible for this shameful act and its consequences, and we affirm that we will not tolerate any infringement of the security of our States or any tampering with the stability of our region. We condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly and blatant criminal Israeli aggression that was committed on the afternoon of Tuesday, 9 September. This attack represents a serious and direct escalation against a sovereign Arab State, as it targeted residential premises where several members of the Hamas political office reside in Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar. It resulted in the death of several people, including a Qatari national, and numerous injuries, in a residential area that includes a school and homes. We express our condolences to our brothers in Qatar. We affirm that the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of the State of Qatar. We warn, unambiguously, of the consequences of continuing to violate the sovereignty of States. The national security of the GCC countries is a red line. Any repetition of such acts will be met with stronger collective positions and political and legal deterrent measures in the existing frameworks of the international system. This attack comes in the context of systematic policies and continued attempts by Israel to undermine security and stability in the region. We must not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and the continued tampering with the security of the region or any action targeting its security and sovereignty. This hostile approach will be met with a united position by the Gulf countries, with no compromise on sovereignty or security. We reaffirm our support for the brotherly State of Qatar in the framework of its right and duty to deal decisively with any reckless incursion or aggression that affects its security and threatens the stability of the region. We also support the State of Qatar in reserving the right to respond to this blatant attack. It must take all necessary measures to respond in order to protect its people and defend We commend the sincere efforts made by the State of Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, in the framework of mediation, de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the region, in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Attacking a trusted mediator undermines the chances of calm, destabilizes the region and weakens the chances of peace. In conclusion, the States of the GCC will remain steadfast in their determination to continue to make all efforts to consolidate international peace and security. We reaffirm our full support for the brotherly State of Qatar and our support for referring this attack to the relevant international mechanisms. We call on the international community to hold those responsible accountable without delay.

I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

I thank the Security Council for convening today’s meeting to discuss the repercussions of the brutal, illegal and unjustified Israeli aggression against the brotherly State of Qatar, which was making tireless efforts alongside Egypt and the United States to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and achieve security and peace for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. Israel’s cooperation with these efforts and appreciation thereof was a treacherous aggression on Qatari territories under unacceptable pretexts. Israel has committed an aggression against a brotherly Arab country that was not the first of its kind and will not be the last since the beginning of the crisis in Gaza. It committed this aggression in the light of a genocide being committed against the Palestinian people, which we must not overlook, and the displacement of the Palestinian people and the occupation of their lands, which must end. Unfortunately, Israel will continue this aggression and these crimes as long as the Security Council and the international community do not take serious measures to deter Israel from its extremist policy of aggression and its repeated violations of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Egypt would like to highlight the following points. First, Egypt condemns in the strongest terms the blatant aggression against the State of Qatar which targeted the political bureau of the Hamas movement, in a flagrant violation of the provisions of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Egypt stresses its full solidarity and its position in support for the brotherly State of Qatar, which has made strenuous efforts, which should be appreciated and praised by all, to stop the war in Gaza and to achieve the stabilization of the region. Egypt stresses that international law and the United Nations Charter guarantee to Qatar and Arab countries that have been subjected to similar Israeli aggressions Secondly, the Israeli aggression clearly reveals which party is hindering the achievement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and which party wishes to prolong the war for extremist political and religious goals, aimed at displacing the brotherly Palestinian people and attempting to liquidate their cause, in addition to internal reasons of which we are all aware. The aggression targeted brotherly Qatar, which is making tremendous efforts with Egypt to reach an agreement, and was aimed at a meeting that was scheduled to discuss the latest proposal to stop the war. It will make negotiations more difficult and lessen the chances of reaching a solution. Thirdly, this brutal attack clearly reflects the ideology behind Israeli politics, which knows nothing but the language of killing, destruction and aggression, an ideology that does not distinguish between right and wrong, and even attacks those who are helping. We wonder how mediation efforts can succeed in convincing all parties in the region of the feasibility of a peaceful solution while Israel is attacking the very mediators working to that end? Fourthly, Egypt stresses that the military option and the imposition of solutions by force have not worked for Israel, as all fronts in the conflict are still burning and tensions prevail, owing to repeated Israeli aggressions. The wall of hatred is being built up again. In fact, the only breakthrough in this landscape was achieved at the beginning of the year, the result of mediation efforts that succeeded in achieving a ceasefire that we had hoped would be sustained, had it not been for Israel’s desire to prolong the aggression. Fifthly, Egypt calls for efforts to be stepped up to stop the destructive Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 64,000 martyrs. We call for the Gaza Strip to be saved from a famine that is killing its population and for an end to the occupation practices in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We remind Council members of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian territories that is exacerbated by Israel’s siege and crimes. We call upon the Council to immediately adopt a resolution under Chapter VII that would stop the Israeli aggression against Gaza and support the efforts of the mediators. We reiterate that the Middle East will not know peace or stability except through a just and comprehensive solution that achieves an independent Palestinian State within the 4 June 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem. Sixthly, Egypt underscores its continued commitment to the peaceful solution of all crises in the region and its efforts to establish peace and end wars. Our latest endeavours have taken the form of the success of our efforts to mediate between the State of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the signing of the Cairo agreement yesterday to resume technical cooperation in an effort to achieve calm and restore trust among all parties and create an atmosphere that is conducive to regional security and stability. In this context, we express our firm determination to save the defenceless Palestinian people from the ongoing aggression against their land, especially in the Gaza Strip, and to help in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, under the full supervision of the Palestinian Authority. In conclusion, we reaffirm our position to stand firmly with our brothers in the State of Qatar and to support any measures Qatar takes in defence of its national security. We call upon the Council to immediately take a firm decision to deter Israel and stop its war against the Gaza Strip and the countries of the region and to confront the State terrorism of Israel before Israel sends the region into a regional war that no one can afford. The time has come for the international community to adopt a unified stance that is firmly against Israel and to oblige Israel to abide by international law, renounce

The representative of Pakistan has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I am obliged to take the floor to respond to some comments. The representative of Israel perhaps did not listen attentively to all Council members and other speakers in today’s debate and, in our view, it is unacceptable, indeed ludicrous, for an aggressor, an occupier, a serial violator of the Charter of the United Nations and international law — that is, Israel — to abuse this Chamber and disrespect the sanctity of the Council, and not for the first time, by pointing fingers at others and making baseless assertions primarily aimed at masking its own illegal actions and violations of international law. But that is not at all surprising. It is an occupier that does not listen to anyone, that does not pay heed to any advice, even from its friends, if there are any left, that refutes and not just refutes but threatens members of the international community, international media, international human rights and humanitarian organizations, that does not listen to the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court and threatens the United Nations and its senior officials and does so with impunity, shielded by its apologists who, time and again, acquiesce in its illegal actions and defiance of the international community. Like all occupiers, despite being the aggressor, it feigns and plays the victim, but today it is totally exposed. The Council has spent decades discussing the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian question. Meeting after meeting we devote hours to this agenda. It is not because of anyone else. It is because of Israel, which refuses to vacate its illegal occupation and which blatantly violates the resolutions of the Council. It is because of that that we have these discussions. Israel also chose to refer to an unrelated incident and make misleading remarks regarding Pakistan in an effort to justify its own illegal actions and violations of international law. Pakistan’s position on that incident has been clearly stated and is publicly available. The international community is well aware of Pakistan’s front-line role and sacrifices in the international community’s fight against terrorism. The entire world, including our partners, acknowledge that Al-Qaida was largely decimated owing to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. And we remain committed in this global collective endeavour. We cannot accept insinuations from an irresponsible rogue State that is, in fact, the perpetrator of the worst kind of State terrorism, which we have been witnessing in Gaza and, in fact, in the occupied Palestinian territories for decades. We reject any false analogy, as Qatar also did. However it interprets the statements made in the Council, the occupying Power must go back and read carefully the statement issued by the Security Council today (SC/16163) — and let me read it out here — a statement that normally should have been stronger but, nevertheless, has been unanimously adopted by the Council. “The members of the Security Council expressed their condemnation of the recent strikes in Doha, the territory of a key mediator, on 9 September. They expressed deep regret at the loss of civilian life. “Council members 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 Charter of the United Nations. “Council members underscored that releasing the hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and 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 United States, and called for the parties to seize the opportunity for peace.” That is why we are here, this afternoon, in the Council.

The representative of Israel has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor.

If our colleague from Pakistan wanted to read the statement, he could have done so at the beginning of the meeting. I want to refer to his words. Maybe he was offended by the words in my speech, and I apologize for that. But I made sure that, in my speech, I stuck to the facts. And the fact is that Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, and no one condemned the United States, and when other countries in the Council attacked terrorists, no one condemned them. That is the issue of double standards, when different standards are applied to Israel than the standards that Council members apply to themselves; that is the problem with this institution. So, yes, he cannot change the fact that 9/11 happened, and today we mark that day. He cannot change the fact that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan and was killed on his territory. But I would ask him, when he criticizes us — and I am sure that that will continue in the future — to think about the issue of double standards: which standards does he apply to his country and which standards does he apply to Israel?