Qatar PM calls Netanyahu a ‘war criminal’ over Gaza strikes

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” over Israel’s military strikes in Gaza.

Asked by British journalist Piers Morgan whether he considered Netanyahu a war criminal, Sheikh Mohammed said, “Of course,” arguing that attacks on hospitals and schools in Gaza could not be justified.

He also accused Netanyahu of attacking Qatar politically to divert attention from the conduct of the Israeli government.

Sheikh Mohammed renewed Qatar’s condemnation of Israel’s September 9, 2025 strike on Doha when Qatar was mediating between the group and Israel.

The attack killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer.

“We were attacked by Israel while we were mediating,” he said, describing it as an unprecedented attack on a mediator and accusing Netanyahu of crossing another “line”.

Despite the tensions, Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar would continue to prioritise diplomacy and remain engaged with both Washington and Tehran.

“We are trying to do our best to give the best advice to the US government on how to reach a solution, as well as to the Iranians,” he said.

He identified three key issues that needed to be addressed to ease the wider regional conflict: Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and regional security arrangements involving Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council states.

He said any regional security framework should be based on dialogue, non-interference and non-aggression, alongside greater economic cooperation.

Earlier on Tuesday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said Doha was continuing its mediation efforts and carrying messages between the United States and Iran.

Al-Ansari said Qatar remained concerned about further military escalation and was working towards a peaceful solution.