Shehbaz in Qatar, calls for unity amid Israeli provocations

DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the Muslim countries must unite to stop Israel’s provocative acts, as he reached Doha for a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to express solidarity with the people and government of the Gulf State after Israel bombed Doha against all legal and international norms.

“Israeli attack is a clear violation of Qatar’s sovereignty,” the prime minister said and assured the Qatari emir that the government and the people of Pakistan stood by the Gulf State.

The remarks came as Qatar is hosting an extraordinary Arab-Islamic (Arab League-OIC) Summit on September 15 in response to the Doha attack.

On Tuesday, Israel carried out unprovoked air strikes on Doha in attempt to eliminate the Hamas leadership, triggering a strong backlash from across the globe.

Read more: Israel attacks Doha to assassinate Hamas leaders

Speaking on the occasion, the Qatari emir thanked the prime minister for his visit as they reiterated their commitment to further cement the already strong ties between the two nations.

COOPERATION FOR REGIONAL PEACE

In his immediate reaction, Shehbaz had described the Israeli attack as “most dangerous provocation that could imperil regional peace and stability”.

And on Thursday, the two leaders agreed to maintain close collaboration to promote regional peace, adherence to international law and support the rights of Palestinian people.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told CNN on Wednesday there would be a response that was under discussion with regional partners to the Israeli aggression.

Read more: Qatar says mulling over response to Doha attack, Israel threatens more

But the extremist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to carry out more attacks as Israeli is trying to sabotage any progress on the two-state solution while also pushing ahead with the Greater Israel plans.

Also on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan, Algeria and Somalia had requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation after an unprovoked attack on Doha, the capital of Qatar, carried out by Israel.

TWO-STATE SOLUTION

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron in a post shared on X said he had called the Qatari emir, telling him that “these strikes are unacceptable. I condemn them. I reaffirmed France’s commitment to the sovereignty and security of Qatar.”

At the same time, he pressed the case for two-state solution.

“This permanent state of war in Gaza cannot continue. Two peoples, two states. Peace and security for all.”