THE United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned recent strikes on Qatar's capital Doha, but did not mention Israel in the statement agreed to by all 15 members, including Israel's ally the United States.
Reuters reported on Friday that Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with the attack on Tuesday, escalating its military action in what the United States described as a unilateral attack that does not advance U.S. and Israeli interests.
“This strike sends a message that should echo across this chamber. There is no sanctuary for terrorists, not in Gaza, not in Tehran, not in Doha. There is no immunity for terrorists,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told a Security Council meeting on the attack. “We will act against the leaders of terror wherever they are hiding.”
The United States traditionally shields its ally Israel at the United Nations. U.S. backing for the Security Council statement, which could only be approved by consensus, reflects President Donald Trump'sunhappiness with the attack ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar. They underlined their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar," read the statement, drafted by Britain and France.
The widely condemned Doha operation was especially sensitive because Qatar has been hosting and mediating negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
"Council members underscored that releasing the hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and ending the war and suffering in Gaza must remain our top priority," the Security Council statement read.
Qatar Accuses Israel Of Undermining Talks
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani accused Israel of trying to derail efforts to end the war in Gaza by attacking Hamas leaders in Doha, but pledged to continue its mediation efforts.
Israeli aircraft were dropping leaflets on the Sabra area of the city warning all civilians to get out.
"Attacking our territories while we were busy with negotiations has uncovered the intention of Israel. It is trying to undermine any prospect of peace. It is trying to perpetuate the suffering of the Palestinian people," he told the council. "It also shows that extremists that rule Israel today do not care about the hostages. This is not a priority."
Pakistan also questioned whether the release of hostages held by Hamas was a priority for Israel.
“It is evident that Israel, the occupying power, is bent on doing everything to undermine and blow up every possibility of peace,” Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told the council.
Acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea said: "It is inappropriate for any member to use this to question Israel's commitment to bringing their hostages home.”
She largely repeated Trump’s statement on the attack, telling the council that the strikes do not advance U.S. or Israeli goals, but - “notwithstanding the unfortunate nature of this incident” - it could serve as an opportunity for peace.
Algeria voiced its disappointment that the Security Council statement was not stronger.
“Violence breeds violence. Impunity breeds war. Silence in the international community, and of this very Security Council, fuels chaos,” Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama told the council. “This very council remains constrained, unable even to name the aggressor, to qualify aggression as a violation of international law.”
An October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, have since been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
Drone Incursions In Poland
Ealrier, the United Nations Security Council said it’s et to meet on Friday to discuss drone incursions into its airspace that the Polish president described as an attempt by Russia to test Warsaw and NATO's response.
Poland also banned drone flights along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine, and limited small air traffic there, after shooting down what it said were Russian drones that violated its airspace on Wednesday.
Poland was backed by its NATO allies in shooting down the drones - the first time a member of the military alliance is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine - and Germany said on Thursday it would strengthen its commitment to NATO's eastern border in response to the incursions.
Russia said it had not intended to hit any targets in Poland, and that it would make no further comment on the incident. A senior NATO commander said it was not yet known whether the drone incursions were intentional.
But the incident has raised questions about NATO's preparedness against drone attacks, fuelled tensions with Russia and prompted some Western leaders to seek new sanctions against Moscow and question its commitment to peace efforts in Ukraine.
"This Russian provocation, as the generals and our soldiers are well aware, was nothing more than an attempt to test our capabilities, our ability to respond," Polish President Karol Nawrocki told soldiers on Thursday.
U.N. Security Council members Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, France and Britain asked the 15-member body to meet over the incident.
Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS surveillance planes and NATO mid-air refuelling aircraft scrambled in the operation to shoot down drones in Polish airspace overnight on Tuesday to Wednesday, officials said.
The debris of 16 drones had so far been recovered, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told parliament on Thursday.
He said Poland's logistical support for Ukraine may have been a motivation for the incursions - most aid for Ukraine transits via Poland.
"This is an attempt to weaken NATO's and Poland's willingness to support Ukraine," he said.
Some Air Traffic Restricted
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he had activated Article 4 of NATO's treaty, under which alliance members can demand consultations with their allies.
Trump spoke to Nawrocki on Wednesday, and the leaders expressed unity. But Washington said little about the drone incursions on the eve of a prisoner release by Belarus that followed an appeal by the U.S. president.
European leaders, who want Trump to join them in tightening sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Kyiv, said the airspace violations justified a collective response.
Germany said it would intensify support for Ukraine and work within the European Union towards the swift adoption of more sanctions against Russia following the drone incursions.
"In addition to existing commitments in the Baltics and Poland, the government will extend and expand air policing over Poland," a German government spokesperson said.
The Netherlands is sending 300 soldiers and accelerating deployment of two out of three Patriot air defence batteries promised to Poland, and the Czech Republic could send three helicopters and 100 soldiers, Poland's defence minister said.
Lawmakers from three Baltic nations bordering Russia urged the U.S. Congress to reject a proposal by Trump that would slash about $200 million a year in defence support for the region.
"In this region, if America goes out, Russia comes in," said Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to the U.S.
Neither Poland nor NATO has yet given a full account of what they suspect the drones were doing. NATO also faces questions about whether foreign drones should even be able to enter its airspace and how well equipped it is to deal with such threats.
Air traffic restrictions imposed by Poland along the borders with Ukraine and Belarus will apply until December 9, Polish air traffic authorities said.
Under the restrictions, general aviation - mainly small and recreational aircraft and helicopters - will be restricted and civilian uncrewed aircraft, such as drones, are banned.
Commercial passenger flights in the area are not affected but the drone incursions have reignited safety concerns over the vulnerability of civil air transport in Europe.
"THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ALL AIRLINES AND ALL EUROPEAN CITIZENS FOR THE NEXT NUMBER OF years," said Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. - September 12, 2025
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