Russia Values Israeli Attacks In Doha Damage Middle East Stability

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Dmitry Feottistov / TASS)

JAKARTA - Israel's attack on Qatar's capital, Doha, further undermined stability in the Middle East, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Thursday's plenary session of the Russian-Arch Arabian Cooperation Council (GCC) Strategic Dialogue.

"Our meeting today comes amid rising military and political tensions in the Middle East due to Israeli missile and bomb attacks in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on September 9," Foreign Minister Lavrov said.

"We accept the news of this action with deep concern. We consider it a serious violation of international law, especially the UN Charter, as a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country, a move that leads to further destabilization of the situation in the Middle East. Such actions certainly deserve to be condemned as hard as they can," he said.

As previously reported, Israel launched an attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar, expanding its military action that has covered the entire Middle East to include the Gulf Arab state where the Palestinian Islamist group has long owned its political base.

Several explosions were heard in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, September 9, according to Reuters witnesses.

A puff of black smoke rose from the Legifya gas station in the city. Right next to the gas station, there is a small housing complex guarded by Qatar emiri troops 24 hours a day since the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

Qatar's Al Jazeera television, citing Hamas sources, said the attack targeted negotiators of the Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.

An Israeli official confirmed to Reuters that Israel had launched an attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar.

Hamas confirmed that none of its officials had died as a result of the attack. However, they confirmed the attack killed six people, including the son of a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Hayya, Humam, and a Qatari soldier.

Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the Israeli military to prepare to attack the leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following a deadly attack on Jerusalem on Monday.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had carried out a special operation against senior Hamas officials, but did not specify it. The statement comes amid reports of a series of explosions in Doha.

Israeli media, citing a senior Israeli official, said the attack was aimed at high-ranking Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the chief Hamas in exiled Gaza and the main negotiator.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Lavrov in a conversation with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed his solidarity with Qatari leaders and people in connection with the Israeli attack on Doha, the Russian Foreign Ministry statement.

"In a phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the top Russian diplomat expressed his solidarity with Qatari leaders and people regarding the Israeli attack on Doha on September 9," the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

Moscow views Israel's attack on the Qatari capital as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

"Russia regards the incident as a blatant violation of international law and UN Charter, an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country, and a move that further increases tensions and instability in the Middle East," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, such a handling method against parties Israel considers it an enemy and its opponents is despicable.

Russia's Foreign Ministry also stressed that a missile strike against Qatar, "a country that plays a key mediation role in indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israeli leaders to end a war that has lasted for nearly two years in the Gaza Strip and frees detained people, cannot be seen as any action other than an act aimed at weakening international efforts to find a peaceful solution," the statement read.