Qatari PM condemns Gaza atrocities and says ceasefire commitments are being violated
Qatar's prime minister has sharply criticised the conduct of the war in Gaza, saying the situation there is unjustified and that whoever is responsible should be treated as a war criminal. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani made the remarks in an interview on Tuesday, speaking about the conflict and Qatar's role as a mediator. He said the response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel had gone beyond what could be justified.
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He said hospitals and schools had been targeted and argued that nothing could justify the scale of destruction. Sheikh Mohammed also said more than 1,400 Gazans had been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire ostensibly took effect. He added that almost 70% of the Strip was occupied and not being allowed by Israeli forces, saying commitments under the agreement were not being fulfilled.
The Qatari leader said Doha's efforts to broker a ceasefire had been undermined from the start of the war. He also condemned Israel's 2025 strike in Doha, saying Qatar was attacked while it was mediating and trying to push a proposal forward. According to his account, the strike targeted senior Hamas officials gathered for negotiations and violated Qatar's sovereignty.
The comments matter because Qatar has played a central diplomatic role in efforts to secure pauses in fighting and negotiate releases and ceasefire terms. As a mediator, Doha has sought to keep channels open with both the United States and regional actors, while also maintaining its own position that diplomacy remains the best route to progress. Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar would continue to uphold diplomacy and mediate for peace in the Middle East.
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His remarks also underline the strain on ceasefire diplomacy at a time when the war remains politically and legally contested. By describing the Gaza situation as a war crime and saying commitments are being broken, he is adding pressure on the parties involved and on the wider diplomatic process. The reference to the Doha strike also points to the risks faced by mediators when negotiations are taking place alongside military action.
It remains unclear how the latest criticism will affect ongoing mediation efforts or whether it will prompt any immediate diplomatic response. The figures cited by Sheikh Mohammed were not independently verified in the interview itself, and the status of the ceasefire he referred to was described as ostensible. What happens next will depend on whether the parties involved move back toward compliance with the agreement or continue to dispute its terms.
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