In light of Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 5,000 civilians, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani asked the international community on Tuesday to refrain from giving Israel “unrestricted authorization to kill.”
The emir made the appeal in his yearly speech to open the advisory Shura council of the Gulf Arab state, his first public statement since Qatar launched its most recent efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas.
We declare enough. Sheikh Tamim stated that Israel shouldn’t be given an unqualified go-ahead and unrestrained licence to murder, and that the bombardment was a risky uptick that endangered international security.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, 5,300 Palestinians have died and more than 18,000 have been injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes during the past two weeks.
READ ALSO: Israeli airstrikes increase as Hamas releases two more Israeli hostages
Since then, Qatar has established communication with both Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in the release of four hostages held by Hamas, including two Israeli women on Monday.
“We call for a serious regional and international stance against this dangerous escalation that we are witnessing, which threatens the security of the region and the world,” Sheikh Tamim stated.
“We do not accept double standards and acting like the lives of Palestinian children aren’t accounted for, as if they don’t have faces or names.”
Other Arab leaders are concerned about Israel’s shelling of Gaza, which appears to have the support of the US and other western nations.
The Arab world is being told—in the words of Jordan’s King Abdullah—that Palestinian lives are less important than Israeli lives.
(Reuters)
