Emir of Qatar says ongoing crisis in Middle East constitutes a “collective genocide,”

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani stated on Thursday that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East constitutes a “collective genocide,” emphasizing that his nation has consistently warned about Israel‘s “impunity.” He remarked, “It is abundantly clear that what is occurring is genocide, alongside the transformation of the Gaza Strip into an area uninhabitable for humans, setting the stage for displacement,” during his address at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha.

The Emir also denounced the Israeli airstrikes and military actions “against the fraternal Lebanese Republic.” Israel has vehemently rejected the allegations of committing genocide in Gaza, where it initiated an offensive a year ago following attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israeli towns, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of over 250 hostages. According to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled region, more than 41,500 Gazans have lost their lives during the Israeli military campaign.

This week, Israel initiated a ground operation in Lebanon targeting the Iran-supported group Hezbollah, which has been launching attacks into Israel, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.