"The UN Security Council (UNSC) underscores the importance of de-escalation and expresses solidarity with Qatar," the UNSC said in a statement on 11/9, following an emergency meeting regarding the Israeli airstrike on Qatar's capital, Doha.

All 15 members of the Security Council, including the US, agreed on the statement. Member states also emphasized their support for "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar." However, the UNSC document did not mention Israel as the perpetrator of the airstrike.

The UNSC described Doha as "part of the territory of an important mediator" for peace talks between Israel and Hamas. "Council members emphasized that the release of hostages, the end of hostilities and the suffering in Gaza must be our top priority," the statement said.

The Prime Minister of Qatar attends the UNSC emergency meeting in New York, USA, on 11/9. Photo: AFP

The Prime Minister of Qatar attends the UNSC emergency meeting in New York, USA, on 11/9. Photo: AFP

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who attended the UNSC emergency meeting, welcomed the statement and reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to maintaining its mediating role in the conflict.

"We will continue our humanitarian and diplomatic role without hesitation to prevent bloodshed, but we will not tolerate any attacks on our sovereignty. We reserve the right to respond through the instruments provided for in international law," Al-Thani said.

At the UNSC meeting, US Acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea said that the unilateral airstrike on Qatar, a sovereign nation mediating alongside the US, would not serve the objectives of either Tel Aviv or Washington. She described the incident as "regrettable," but stressed that "President Trump believes this could be an opportunity for peace."

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo expressed concern that the airstrike on Doha was "an alarming escalation," risking a new and dangerous phase in this devastating conflict, posing a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.

On 9/9, the Israeli military targeted Hamas political leaders present in Doha. Hamas said key leaders survived the attack, but five members of the group were killed, including the son of senior negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya. Qatar confirmed that one member of its security forces was killed.

Since Hamas's incursion into southern Israel and Tel Aviv's retaliatory campaign in the Gaza Strip in 10/2023, the Security Council has struggled to find a common voice due to the repeated vetoes by the US, an ally of Israel and a permanent member.

However, President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval of the attack on Qatari territory, an ally and the location of a major US military base.

Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)