In a rare diplomatic breach, the United States joined all 14 other members of the United Nations Security Council in condemning an Israeli airstrike on Qatar’s capital, marking a significant shift in Washington’s traditionally steadfast support for Israel.
The strike, which targeted a meeting of senior Hamas officials in Doha on Tuesday, resulted in at least five Hamas member deaths and killed one Qatari security officer. The Council’s joint statement, issued Thursday, emphasized the “unprecedented violation of Qatari sovereignty” and expressed full solidarity with Qatar, a key mediator in the region, reports agencies .
While not directly naming Israel, the statement underscored the necessity of protecting territorial integrity and urged immediate de-escalation. The US decision to sign on was particularly notable. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea criticized the operation, saying that “unilateral bombing inside a sovereign nation” actively mediating peace does not serve US or Israeli interests.
Diplomatic sources reported that the White House had no advance knowledge of the strike, with President Donald Trump reportedly reacting with alarm upon learning it was underway. The UN’s political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, warned the strike risked “igniting a broader conflict” and severely undermining ongoing peace efforts.
