AU condemns Israeli strike on Qatar, warns against escalation in Middle East

The African Union (AU) has strongly condemned a reported Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.

It warned that the attack could further destabilize an already fragile Middle East.

Israel said the airstrike targeted senior members of Hamas’ leadership.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ambassador Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed “deep concern” over the strike.

He cautioned that the development threatens regional security and risks undermining efforts toward peace.

According to a Hamas official who spoke to the BBC, the strike hit a building in the city’s northern Katara district where members of the group’s negotiating team had been meeting.

“The Chairperson reaffirms the AU’s call for restraint, respect for sovereignty, and the protection of civilians,” the statement sent to newsrooms read.

He also highlighted Qatar’s longstanding role in international peace, mediation, and diplomacy, underscoring the urgency for renewed dialogue.

Amb. Youssouf stressed that meaningful negotiations remain the only viable path to a “just and lasting peace” in the Middle East.

The AU’s intervention comes as international concern mounts over the widening conflict and its potential repercussions for global security and humanitarian stability.

While the extent of casualties remains unclear, images from the scene show a heavily damaged residential block.

The Israeli military said the targeted Hamas officials were directly involved in planning the 7 October 2023 assault on Israel and in directing the ongoing war in Gaza.

Qatar denounced the strike, describing it as a “cowardly Israeli attack” against residential premises that housed several members of Hamas’ political bureau.