by Alya Ahmed Al-Thani

Danny Danon, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, accused Qatar on September 11 of supporting terrorism by hosting a Hamas delegation while also hosting an Israeli delegation to promote Israeli-Palestinian exchanges.

During the emergency briefing held by the Security Council on 11 September 2025 at the request of Qatar to discuss the Israeli attack on Doha on 9 September, the statement of the Permanent Representative of Israel contained clear falsehoods and unacceptable accusations against my country, Qatar, which necessitate a response through the present letter.

These baseless accusations stand in stark contrast to the welcome extended to Qatar at the meeting and the strong solidarity with it expressed by all Council members at the session following the treacherous Israeli attack in Doha, as the Council issued a press statement condemning the attack.

It is not surprising that the representative of the Government of Israel, in the face of this clear condemnation of his Government’s actions and the affirmation that those actions undermine peace and the prospects for a peaceful settlement, resorted to levelling baseless accusations in a futile attempt to malign Qatar through using empty claims about “harbouring terrorism”. This comes at a time when Israeli forces continue to commit the most horrific violations in the Gaza Strip, which have been condemned by the world. What does one call the killing of tens of thousands of innocent children and women; the destruction of the entirety of the Gaza Strip, including hospitals, schools, mosques and churches; the bombing and burning of displaced persons’ tents; the shelling of journalists; the deliberate targeting of aid workers; and the use of starvation as a weapon, leading to famine?

It is well known that, as part of its role as a trusted mediator, Qatar keeps channels of communication open with various parties, which contributes to the success of mediation efforts and has already produced concrete results in alleviating human suffering and the release of a large number of Israeli hostages. As part of this role, Doha hosts negotiators, including representatives of Hamas and of Israel itself. This is welcomed and supported by the international community and is carried out with the support of – and, indeed, at the request of – the countries concerned.

The veiled threats contained in the statement of the representative of Israel only serve to prove what was affirmed in the statements of Qatar and others at the meeting: that the Israeli Government seeks to undermine any chance for peace and hides behind false pretexts for the use of force against sovereign States, in flagrant violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

All repeated attempts to distort the constructive role of Qatar in achieving peace, security and stability have failed. In their statements and in the Council’s press release, the members of the Council reiterated the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts of Qatar and expressed support for them.

The principled policy of Qatar and its role with respect to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian cause in general will not be affected by reactions or attempts to obstruct it by any party. The policy is embedded in the State’s foreign policy and is an integral part of its sincere efforts to maintain international and regional peace and security.

I should be grateful if the present letter could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Alya Ahmed Al-Thani