(Reuters) -Qatar hit again at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a strongly worded assertion early on Thursday, describing his remarks concerning the Gulf nation’s internet hosting of a Hamas workplace as “reckless”.
The heated alternate got here greater than a day after Israel tried to kill Hamas political leaders in an air strike on Qatar on Tuesday, escalating its army marketing campaign within the Center East and prompting a flurry of worldwide condemnations.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu warned Qatar to both expel Hamas officers or “convey them to justice. As a result of for those who do not, we are going to.” He additionally accused Qatar of offering protected haven and financing to Hamas, drawing a pointy rebuke from Doha.
In an announcement, Qatar’s international ministry condemned what it described as Netanyahu’s “express threats of future violations of state sovereignty”.
“Netanyahu is totally conscious that the internet hosting of the Hamas workplace passed off throughout the framework of Qatar’s mediation efforts requested by america and Israel,” the ministry added.
“The negotiations had been at all times held in an official and clear method, with worldwide assist and within the presence of U.S. and Israeli delegations. Netanyahu’s insinuation that Qatar secretly harbored the Hamas delegation is a determined try to justify a criminal offense condemned by your complete world.”
Qatar, together with Egypt, has been mediating peace talks between Hamas and Israel. It warned that Israel’s assault on Doha threatened to derail these negotiations.
“We’ll work with our companions to make sure Netanyahu is held accountable and that his reckless and irresponsible actions are dropped at an finish,” the international ministry mentioned.
(Reporting by Hatem Maher; Modifying by Sonali Paul)