United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk strongly condemned Israel’s strike on the Qatari capital on September 9, which targeted Hamas leaders and resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. Speaking during an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council, Turk described the attack as a “shocking breach of international law” and an “assault on regional peace and stability,” urging “accountability for unlawful killings.”
Qatar and numerous other countries echoed these sentiments during the three-hour debate. Qatari International Cooperation Minister Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad slammed the “treacherous attack” and called for practical steps to hold aggressors accountable and prevent impunity. She stated that the attack was part of a broader campaign to distort Qatar’s role and obstruct its diplomatic efforts. Pakistan’s ambassador, Bilal Ahmad, warned that the “unjustifiable and unprovoked attack constitutes a dangerous escalation.”
Urgent Debate and International Condemnation The UN Human Rights Council convened its 10th urgent debate since its establishment in 2006, following requests from members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Pakistan was among the nations that spearheaded the call for this debate.
Neither Israel nor its key ally, the United States, participated in the urgent debate, having disengaged from the council earlier this year. However, Israel’s ambassador in Geneva, Daniel Meron, criticized the meeting from the sidelines, calling it “another shameful chapter in the Human Rights Council’s ongoing abuse” and accusing the council of serving as a platform for “anti-Israel propaganda” while ignoring “atrocities committed by Hamas.”
During the debate, Israel’s position received little support. The European Union ambassador emphasized the bloc’s “principled stance against terrorism” and its “support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar,” urging Israel to respect international law. China’s ambassador condemned the attack as a “deliberate attempt to derail the negotiation process.”
South Africa, which has brought a case against Israel before the International Court of Justice accusing it of genocide in Gaza, delivered some of the harshest criticism. Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi stated that the attack “strikes against the very heart of mediation processes” and demonstrates that Israel “does not want to end its genocidal war against the Palestinian people.” He urged the international community to take “practical countermeasures” to ensure Israel is held accountable.
