Qatari Emir Accuses Netanyahu of Choosing War Over Hostages in UN Address

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

United Nations — Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told world leaders at the 80th UN General Assembly that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opted for war and the destruction of Gaza rather than securing the release of Israeli hostages.

Al-Thani condemned Israel’s September 9 strike in Doha, which targeted Hamas leaders, calling it a “rogue act of state terrorism” and an attempt to sabotage Qatari-mediated negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. “They visit our country and plot to attack it. They negotiate with delegations while planning assassinations. It is impossible to cooperate with such a mentality,” the Emir said.

The Qatari leader accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and warned that Netanyahu views the war as an opportunity to expand settlements, alter the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites, and pursue his vision of a so-called “Greater Israel.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah II echoed the criticism, devoting much of his UN address to warning that Netanyahu’s policies pose a direct threat to regional sovereignty. Turkey also joined in condemning Israel’s military campaign.

In a rare contrast, Indonesia’s President, representing the world’s most populous Muslim nation, urged respect for Israel’s security. He concluded his address with the Hebrew word “Shalom,” signaling a call for peace despite his country’s lack of formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

Al-Thani stressed that if Israel insists hostages can only be freed after the war ends, it is effectively abandoning efforts to secure their release. He accused Israel of seeking to render Gaza “unlivable, where no one can study or receive treatment,” thereby forcing mass displacement.

The Qatari Emir charged that Netanyahu “believes war is an opportunity to expand settlements and to change the status quo in the holy sites.” He warned that Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank were destabilizing the region.

“Israel is not a democratic country surrounded by enemies,” Al-Thani concluded. “It is an enemy to its surrounding neighbors.”

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