Maldives, Indonesia condemn Israeli strike targeting Hamas in Doha

ANKARA

The Maldives and Indonesia condemned Israeli strikes on Tuesday on the Qatari capital that targeted the leadership of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu urged the international community to take "urgent" and "unified" action to hold Tel Aviv accountable for its numerous and continued violations of international norms and principles.

In a post on the US social media company X, Muizzu said such "cowardly actions constitute a serious violation of international law and is a blatant infringement on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a sovereign nation."

The Maldives stands in solidarity with Qatar, he added.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli aggression and reiterated its demand for the UN Security Council to fulfill its mandate by taking immediate and “decisive steps to halt Israel's actions and ensure accountability.”

Israeli attacks are a “threat to regional security and peace,” it said, reaffirming its solidarity with the government and people of Qatar.

It emphasized its commitment to supporting all diplomatic efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive resolution and sustainable peace in the Middle East under the two-state solution.

Separately, India expressed “deep concern” about the developments.

”We have seen reports about the Israeli strikes in Doha earlier today. We are deeply concerned by this development and its impact on the security situation in the region," said a statement by the External Affairs Ministry. "We strongly urge restraint and diplomacy, so that peace and security in the region is not endangered."

Explosions rocked Doha on Tuesday, with plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

An Israeli military spokesman said the army conducted a “precise strike” targeting senior Hamas leadership, without specifying the location.

The Israeli premier's office said the operation against the Palestinian group was "wholly independent."

Qatar, along with Egypt and the US, has acted as a mediator to bring an end to Israel's war on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

*Writing by Aamir Latif