Doha — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invoked the U.S. pursuit of al-Qaeda and the killing of Osama bin Laden to defend Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, citing international law and a key UN resolution as justification.
“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will,” Netanyahu declared.
He said Israel’s strategy mirrors the United States’ actions after 9/11, adding: “Just as America hunted al-Qaeda and brought Osama bin Laden to justice, so too will Israel hunt Hamas wherever they hide.”
To reinforce his point, Netanyahu referred to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, adopted unanimously under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in September 2001, which obligates all UN member states to prevent and suppress the financing and safe haven of terrorists.
“The resolution is binding,” Netanyahu said. “It makes clear that states who host terror groups bear responsibility for their crimes.”
His remarks came in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Doha, which he claimed targeted Hamas infrastructure.
Qatar denounced the attack as a cowardly violation of its sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that put civilians at risk.
In a strongly worded statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Netanyahu of “reckless and irresponsible” behavior.
It stressed that Doha’s hosting of Hamas officials was neither secret nor subversive, but part of transparent mediation efforts at the request of the U.S. and Israel themselves—efforts that enabled ceasefires and humanitarian relief for Palestinians and Israeli hostages since October 7.
“The insinuation that Qatar secretly harbored the Hamas delegation is a desperate attempt to justify a crime condemned by the entire world,” the ministry said, dismissing Netanyahu’s comparison to al-Qaeda as “a new, miserable justification for treacherous practices.”
Qatar further charged that Netanyahu was using extremist rhetoric to bolster his domestic standing, saying his threats “only deepen his isolation on the global stage.”
Doha vowed to defend its sovereignty “with resolve” and called on the international community to reject what it described as Netanyahu’s “Islamophobic and inciteful rhetoric.”
Despite the crisis, Qatar reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” reiterating that it remains a trusted mediator in regional conflicts.
