Qatar has welcomed recent recognition of the State of Palestine by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, describing it as “a victory for the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.”
A statement from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said these recognitions align with international legal legitimacy, Security Council resolutions, and the “New York Declaration” on implementing a two-state solution.
Doha urged all countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to follow suit, saying such steps reflect commitment to international law and help build prospects for just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region.
In response, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the recognitions, stating that unilateral recognition of Palestine “does not contribute to peace and undermines direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Israel emphasized that progress should come through dialogue rather than international declarations, and warned that such recognitions risk emboldening factions opposed to compromise.
These diplomatic developments come amid heightened tensions in Qatar following a recent Israeli airstrike in Doha on September 9, 2025, targeting Hamas leaders, during ceasefire talks.
The strike killed multiple people, including a Qatari security official. Doha condemned the strike as a serious violation of its sovereignty. Several governments and international bodies, including the UN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), openly denounced the attack.
Israel responded to the Doha strike by asserting that the operation was a legitimate defensive measure against Hamas, which it described as a “terrorist organization planning attacks from Qatari territory.”
Israeli officials emphasized that the strike was aimed solely at combatants involved in planning violence against Israeli civilians and maintained that Israel regretted any civilian casualties, reaffirming that its actions were guided by self-defense under international law.
In the wake of the bombing, Qatar has also taken defensive and diplomatic measures.
It has expressed outrage at what it called “state terrorism,” reaffirmed its role as a mediator in the Gaza conflict, and reiterated calls for de-escalation. Doha has also drawn attention to concerns that such attacks could undermine ongoing peace efforts.
The two developments—recognition of Palestine by key Western powers, and the bombing in Doha—underscore Qatar’s increasingly central, and sometimes perilous, role in Middle East diplomacy.
The recognition broadens international support for Palestine, while the attack highlights the risks Qatar faces as a mediator and host to negotiations in a volatile conflict.