New York (Web Desk): Pakistan strongly pushed back against Israel at the United Nations after Tel Aviv attempted to defend its recent strikes in Doha, brushing aside widespread censure from the UN Security Council.
Speaking in his right of reply, Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad declared it outrageous for Israel—an occupying power with a long record of violating the UN Charter and international law—to exploit the Council’s forum while masking its own unlawful conduct.
He said Israel’s accusations were nothing more than a smokescreen intended to deflect attention from its aggression, as the Middle East debate convened by Pakistan, Algeria, and Somalia took place under South Korea’s presidency.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Dannon, in a combative tone, insisted that no safe haven existed for what he called “terrorists,” whether in Gaza, Tehran, or Doha.
He warned that unless Qatar expelled Hamas, prosecuted its members, and condemned their activities, Israel would act against them itself.
Ambassador Ahmad, in a firm rejoinder, accused Israel of behaving like an occupier that ignored all counsel—even from its allies—and resorted to intimidating the media, human rights groups, international organizations, and even the UN’s own officials.
Shielded by sympathizers, he said, Israel continued its defiance with impunity, presenting itself as a victim despite being the aggressor.
Turning to Israel’s reference to the U.S. raid against Osama bin Laden, the Pakistani envoy rejected the comparison outright. He emphasized that Pakistan’s role in combating terrorism was acknowledged worldwide, noting that Al Qaeda was largely dismantled because of Pakistan’s frontline sacrifices in the collective fight against extremism.
He said Israel’s attempt to use that incident as justification for its own actions was misleading, while Tel Aviv itself remained guilty of state terrorism in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Ambassador Ahmad added that striking the territory of a mediator engaged in ceasefire and hostage negotiations was nothing less than an effort to sabotage diplomacy, derail peace initiatives, and prolong civilian misery. He warned that Israel’s determination to destroy any prospect of peace had been reinforced by the Council’s muted reaction.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, also condemned Israel’s September 9 attack on a Doha residential compound where Hamas negotiators and their families were housed. He described the assault as a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, asking whether any state had ever targeted mediators in such a way.
He denounced Prime Minister Netanyahu’s justification, pointing to the Taliban’s political office in Doha, which enabled talks with Washington to end the war in Afghanistan—a process the United States never tried to sabotage.
Warning that Israel was destabilizing the region and destroying the chances for peace, he closed with a firm message: Qatar seeks peace, not war, and will not yield to those who call for destruction.