Qatar Holds Israel Responsible for Escalation of Violence

The State of Qatar expressed its "strong condemnation of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon" and called on all parties to cease escalation and exercise maximum restraint. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement today, held "Israel solely responsible for the escalation of violence due to its provocative actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque." It emphasized the urgent need for the international community to act "to compel Israel to stop its blatant violations of international law and to respect international legitimacy." The ministry reiterated Qatar's firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, calling for the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.