U.N. Human Rights Council to Hold Urgent Debate on Israel‘s Qatar Strike
The United Nations Human rights Council announced it will convene an urgent debate on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, regarding Israel’s airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar.
The council stated on Monday, September 15, 2025, that the debate was scheduled following the receipt of two formal requests: one from Pakistan on behalf of member states of the Institution of Islamic Cooperation, and another from Kuwait representing the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the gulf.
This will be the council’s 10th urgent debate since its establishment in 2006, and will “discuss the recent military aggression carried out by the State of Israel against the State of Qatar on September 9, 2025.”
The israeli strike, wich occurred last week in the Qatari capital, resulted in the deaths of five hamas members and one Qatari security officer.The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from Gulf monarchies allied with the United States, Israel’s primary ally.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Addresses Qatar Strike with Netanyahu
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, September 15, 2025, as the U.S. expresses concern over the airstrikes in Qatar,which threaten ongoing efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire.
Rubio’s visit precedes a French-led summit at the United Nations scheduled for the following week,intended to recognize a Palestinian state – a prospect strongly opposed by Netanyahu’s government.
Though, discussions are expected to be complex by the fact that the Trump administration was surprised by Israel’s attack in Qatar, which targeted Hamas leaders engaged in discussions regarding a new U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza.
President Donald Trump, a long-time supporter of Netanyahu, reiterated his support for Qatar on Sunday, September 14, 2025, noting Qatar’s strong relationship with the U.S., including the presence of the largest U.S. air base in the region and gifts such as a luxury jet.
“Qatar has been a very grate ally. Israel and everyone else, we have to be careful. When we attack people we have to be careful,” Trump told reporters.
Rubio stated before departing Washington that “obviously we’re not happy” about the strike, but added, ”Now we need to move forward and figure out what comes next.” He plans to discuss Israeli military plans to seize Gaza City, as well as the government’s consideration of annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, potentially precluding a Palestinian state.
Trump, according to Rubio, desires a swift resolution to the Gaza war, contingent on the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas as a threat.
The current conflict was initiated by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on israel, which resulted in 1,219 deaths, the majority of whom were civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in at least 64,871 fatalities, also predominantly civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.
Published – September 15, 2025 02:20 pm