Qatar's Emir at UNGA: Gaza 'Genocide', Urges Diplomacy on Iran

Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to press for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between the United States and Iran, warning that the absence of a regional security framework has left the Gulf exposed to war.

Speaking from the podium, Sheikh Tamim said he remained "deeply convinced" that the crisis in the Gulf could be settled through negotiations rather than military confrontation. He called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened to maritime navigation and for talks to resume in order to avert war, describing such a path as the way toward a lasting settlement that would ensure security and stability for the entire region, including Iran.

The Emir identified the lack of a collective security arrangement as the root of the danger. He said the region needs a system that respects the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of states, promotes the peaceful settlement of disputes and rules out interference in internal affairs. He noted that he had called for such a framework from the same podium previously and reiterated the appeal, saying recent events had shown how urgently it is needed.

Without that system, Sheikh Tamim warned, war can break out for reasons unrelated to the interests of the region's countries. He said one party can drag its neighbours into a conflict that is not theirs, targeting vital assets and installations despite continued efforts to prevent escalation, and that an international waterway carrying nearly a quarter of the world's energy trade can be shut down.

Qatar has served as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran during the war, including in efforts to sustain a ceasefire and revive diplomacy.

Turning to Gaza, the Emir described the war there as "genocide in every sense of the word" and a stain of shame on the conscience of humanity. He said future generations would be astonished by the gap between the scale of the catastrophe and the level of international response to stop it.

Sheikh Tamim also said Israeli leaders have begun to openly advocate displacing Gaza's population, a policy he warned would obstruct efforts to improve conditions for Palestinians. He called on Israel to honour its commitments by halting operations, withdrawing from Gaza and lifting the blockade.

Qatar has worked alongside Egypt and the United States to mediate the Gaza ceasefire and to push for implementation of the agreement.