Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday condemned Israel’s air strikes on Doha targeting Hamas political leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling them “unacceptable regardless of motive”.
Macron made the comments on X , adding that “the war must not be allowed to spread in the region”.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer meanwhile said the attack violated Qatar’s sovereignty and risked “further escalation” in the volatile region.
“I condemn Israel’s strikes on Doha… The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza,” Starmer posted on X.
“This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace.”
Israel’s strikes on Doha were the first of their kind in the Qatari capital.
Hamas said the strikes had killed six people, including the son of its top negotiator and a Qatari security officer, but that senior leaders had survived.
Responding to the condemnation from France and Britain, Netanyahu accused the critics of forgetting Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel in October 2023.
“Much of the world, including much of the democratic world, or governments at least, have shamefully, shamefully forgotten October 7th,” he said at a US embassy function in Jerusalem.
“But I don’t forget, and Israel will never forget,” Netanyahu added.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul later also called the attack “unacceptable”.
“Israel’s attack on Doha not only violates Qatar’s territorial sovereignty, but also jeopardises all of our efforts to secure the release of the hostages,” he said in a statement.
“Qatar is playing a crucial role in the efforts to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of the hostages,” Wadephul said.
“I urgently call for everything to be done now to finally bring about a ceasefire and allow the hostages to return to their families.”
Wadephul also added that “the current escalation is… a result of Hamas’s abhorrent terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.”
