German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has sharply criticized Israel’s attack on high-ranking Hamas members in Doha. He stated that the attack not only violates Qatar’s territorial sovereignty but also jeopardize efforts to secure the release of hostages. Wadephul expressed deep concern for the safety and lives of hostages held by Hamas, including German nationals, a sentiment he conveyed to his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, in a telephone conversation.
Qatar’s role in facilitating a ceasefire and facilitating hostage release was acknowledged by the German Foreign Minister. He expressed solidarity and gratitude to his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed, for Qatar’s ongoing efforts.
Wadephul urged immediate action toward a ceasefire and the return of hostages to their families. He emphasized that the responsibility for disarming and renouncing terrorism against Israel lies with Hamas, attributing the current escalation to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The U.S. government also addressed the incident, confirming that they were informed by the U.S. military that Israel attacked Hamas members located in Doha. White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that the unilateral bombardment of Qatar serves “neither Israel’s goals nor those of the United States”. However, she added that eliminating Hamas, accused of profiting from the suffering of the people in Gaza, remains a worthy objective.
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli domestic intelligence agency (ISA) jointly conducted the attack in Doha, targeting Hamas leaders accused of years of overseeing the organization’s operations and bearing direct responsibility for the October 7 massacre in Israel. Qatar has condemned the attack.
