PM calls for end to Israel’s ‘brazen aggression’
Shebaz seeks united Ummah in meeting with Qatari emir
Funeral held for six killed in Israel Qatar strike
Staff Report
DOHA: In a meeting with the Qatari emir on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged unity in the Muslim world to confront Israeli provocations following Tel Aviv’s recent airstrikes targeting residential areas in Doha.
PM Shehbaz reached Doha on Thursday on a one-day visit, where he met Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to express solidarity and regional unity after the attacks, state media reported.
“The prime minister emphasised that Israel’s ongoing aggression in the Middle East must be stopped and the Muslim world needs unity in its ranks to confront Israeli provocations,” according to a statement by state broadcaster on X.
The statement said the prime minister strongly condemned the Israeli attack as a “blatant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stated that the leadership and people of Pakistan were deeply concerned about the attack, which was contrary to international laws.
“Reaffirming the historical and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar, the prime minister said that both countries stand with each other. “In this spirit of brotherhood, Pakistan has stood shoulder to shoulder with his highness the emir of Qatar, the royal family and the brotherly people of Qatar during this difficult time.”
He assured the Qatari leadership of Pakistan’s complete solidarity and support against this unjustified provocation, statement said, adding that he also expressed deep sympathy over the loss of precious lives in Israel’s brutal and heinous attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
PM Shehbaz also appreciated Qatar’s “responsible and constructive mediation role” in efforts to establish peace in Gaza, stressing that Israeli actions, such as the Doha strikes, “clearly aim to undermine regional stability and jeopardise ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts”.
Qatar and Egypt have been instrumental in US-backed attempts to hammer out a ceasefire in Gaza, and have been working tirelessly to help secure a deal that would see prisoners being freed on both sides.
In Thursday’s meeting with the Qatari emir, PM Shehbaz recalled that Pakistan had called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss recent developments in the Middle East at Qatar’s request.
He also welcomed Qatar’s decision to host an Arab-Islamic Summit on September 15, saying that Pakistan had expressed its willingness to co-sponsor and co-organise the summit with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“The prime minister also thanked his highness the emir for Qatar’s strong support for Pakistan during India’s unjustified aggression against Pakistan earlier this year. The emir of Qatar thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for visiting Doha to express solidarity.
“Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination in promoting regional peace, upholding international law and supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. During the visit, both leaders reaffirmed the deep brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar and their shared commitment to peace and stability in the region,” the statement concluded.
The prime minister later departed after wrapping up his visit. He was received earlier on Thursday and then seen off by Deputy PM and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani.
The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Tariq Fatemi and others during the visit.
Funeral held for six killed in Israel Qatar strike
The UN Security Council (SC) held an emergency meeting on Thursday in response to Israel’s strikes targeting Hamas officials in Qatar, a Persian Gulf Islamic country.
The meeting, scheduled for 3:00 pm in New York (Midnight Pakistan Standard Time), was requested by Pakistan, Algeria and Somalia.
Both Pakistan and Algeria strongly condemned the Israeli attack and expressed their solidarity with Qatar.
On Tuesday, Israel struck a residential building housing Hamas members as they were discussing the latest proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump over a Gaza truce.
The attack killed five lower-ranked members, including Humam, the son of chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya. Israel also killed Corporal Bader Al-Humaidi Al-Dosari, a member of Qatar’s Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), during the attack.
Reports pointed to Trump granting Israel the green light to carry out the attack, although the U.S. president said he was “not thrilled” about the move. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israel had “independently” carried out the attack.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, slammed Netanyahu’s actions and described the attack as “state terrorism” against his country.
“The Israeli attack that took place today on Qatari soil can only be described as state terrorism practised by someone like Netanyahu,” Sheikh Mohammed told reporters during his first press conference since the attack.
Sheikh Mohammed said the assault sent a message “that there is a rogue actor in this region, engaging in ongoing political chaos and violating the sovereignty of nations”.
In a statement on social media platform X, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan had strongly condemned the “unprovoked airstrikes,” describing them as a “dangerous escalation” in an already volatile region.
Meanwhile, the funeral for six people killed in an Israeli strike targeting Hamas in Qatar was held in a Doha mosque on Thursday amid tight security as the Gulf state’s ruler joined mourners.
One coffin bearing a Qatari flag and five others bearing Palestinian flags were brought to the mosque, live footage from Qatar television showed.
Facing the coffins, the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, prayed alongside dozens of mourners, some wearing traditional white robes, others wearing military uniforms.
The interior ministry said the dead would be buried in the Mesaimeer Cemetery after the funeral at Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque.
Authorities beefed up security, with checkpoints on access roads to the mosque.
Israel targeted Hamas leaders in Doha with air strikes on Tuesday but the group said its top officials survived.
Hamas said five of its members were killed — top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya’s son Hamam, his office director Jihad Labad and bodyguards Ahmad Mamlouk, Abdallah Abdelwahd and Mumen Hassoun.
Qatari Lance Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari was also killed.
In an interview on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he could not confirm Hayya’s fate. The Hamas chief negotiator was not seen at the funeral in the footage.
Sheikh Mohammed said the Israeli attack had killed any hope for Israeli hostages in Gaza, adding that Qatar was reevaluating “everything” surrounding its role as mediator in ceasefire talks.
