Qatar PM Denounces Netanyahu After Doha Airstrikes, Calls Him ‘Narcissist’

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel carried out airstrikes in Doha targeting Hamas leaders on September 9.

The rare attack inside Qatari territory drew sharp criticism from Gulf nations, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union. Qatar’s foreign ministry described it as a blatant violation of the country’s sovereignty and warned against future threats.

On September 10, Netanyahu accused Qatar of harboring and financing Hamas and warned Doha to either expel Hamas officials or “bring them to justice.” Otherwise, he said, Israel would act on its own.

Responding in an interview with CNN, Sheikh Mohammed said Netanyahu’s remarks crossed all boundaries of ethics and manners. He stressed that the Hamas political office in Doha had been established with the approval of both the United States and Israel as part of past diplomatic mediation efforts concerning Gaza.

“Everyone knew about the Hamas office. It was set up at the request of the US and Israel and was used for years to communicate with Hamas,” the Qatari leader said. “This act is state terror, and honestly, we are enraged beyond words.”

The Qatari prime minister said the strikes also shattered any remaining hopes for the release of hostages held in Gaza. He revealed that only hours before the attacks, he had met a hostage’s family who had urged him to continue mediation. “What Netanyahu has done has just killed any hope for those hostages,” he stated.

When asked about Netanyahu’s threat against Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed dismissed it outright, saying the Israeli leader has no moral ground to issue such warnings. “He needs to be brought to justice. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court and has broken every international law, yet he is lecturing the world about legality,” he added.

Asked if Netanyahu’s behavior could be explained as narcissism, Sheikh Mohammed responded that it was the only way to understand such actions. He described the attack on Hamas leaders engaged in mediation talks as a “barbaric action” and a betrayal of international efforts for peace.

“We thought we were dealing with civilized people,” he said. “But this was beyond comprehension.”