Guyana joins global outcry over Israeli airstrike in Doha

President Dr Irfaan Ali has joined the international community in strongly condemning the bombing carried out by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in Doha, Qatar, an attack that occurred approximately one mile from the Guyana Embassy.

In an official statement, the Government described the strike as “a flagrant violation of international law and a direct assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar.” In fact, Guyana stressed that such military actions undermine global efforts to end the ongoing war in Gaza and jeopardise prospects for lasting peace in the Middle East. “The Government of Guyana joins the international community in condemning the unilateral bombing by the Israel Defence Force in Doha, Qatar, approximately one mile from the Guyana Embassy. This violent act is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct assault of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar. Guyana strongly believes that the unilateral military strike in Qatar does not help the cause in ending the war in Gaza nor of achieving lasting peace in the Middle East,” the statement noted.
According to a Reuters, Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatar on Tuesday, escalating its military action in the Middle East with what the United States (US) described as a unilateral attack that does not advance American and Israeli interests. While Israel defended the attacks as being justified, Qatar said Israel was treacherous and engaged in “state terrorism.” Qatari Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the airstrikes threatened to derail the peace talks Qatar has been mediating between Hamas and Israel. The Reuters report went on to state that the attack also drew condemnation from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU) and risks derailing Gaza ceasefire talks and Trump’s push to achieve a negotiated end to the nearly two-year-old conflict. Hamas said five of its members had been killed in the attack, including the son of Hamas’s exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. It said Israel had failed in what Hamas called an attempt to assassinate the group’s ceasefire negotiation team.
Against this backdrop, the Government further emphasised Qatar’s longstanding role as a key ally in counterterrorism and diplomacy. Guyana highlighted that Doha has been instrumental in working with the US and Egypt to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Gaza. “The State of Qatar has been a consistent ally in fighting terrorism and has been instrumental in working closely with the United States and Egypt to bring about a diplomatic solution to the war in Gaza. We therefore stand in full solidarity with the Amir and people of the State of Qatar. Guyana urges full respect for international law and support for allies working to end the war in Gaza and combatting global terrorism,” the statement affirmed.