Foreign Minister Penny Wong has accused Israel of damaging the possibility of a ceasefire in the Middle East after it launched targeted missile strikes on Qatar.
Israel carried out unprecedented strikes in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Tuesday night, targeting Hamas’ leadership as they met to discuss Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire deal.
Israel said the attack was aimed at top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, its Gaza chief.
However, Hamas has since claimed its negotiating delegation survived the airstrike, despite six others being killed, including al-Hayya’s son and a member of the Qatari security forces.
Foreign Minister Wong told Sunrise on Wednesday the Albanese government ‘don’t think this was the right thing to do.’
‘It’s a strike that violates Qatar’s sovereignty, it undermines or potentially damages the possibility of ceasefire and the release of hostages and obviously it risks escalation,’ she added.
‘Let’s remember what Qatar has been doing. It has been working with the United States to try and deliver a ceasefire and the return of hostages.
‘They have been tireless in those negotiations. That’s the context in which this strike has occurred.’
Pressed on whether she was ‘outraged’ by it, Senator Wong repeated that the strike was ‘wrong’.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has accused Israel of damaging the possibility of a ceasefire in the Middle East after it launched targeted missile strikes on Qatar
Israel carried out unprecedented strikes in Qatar’s capital Doha on Tuesday night (pictured), targeting Hamas’ leadership as they met to discuss Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasfire deal
‘It flies in the face of what we all want, which is a ceasefire and the return of the hostages,’ she added.
‘That’s what Qatar has been working for, and I know that President Trump has made similar comments today.
‘This decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu is so destructive, because these negotiations were fundamentally about ending the war.’
The US President was reportedly furious about the attack, claiming that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was solely responsible for the decision.
‘Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,’ Trump posted on social media.
‘However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.’
‘I immediately directed special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack,
‘I view Qatar as a strong ally and friend and feel very badly about the location of the attack. I want ALL of the hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW!’
However, Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the US warned his country of Israel’s attack ten minutes after it began.
He also said his country ‘reserves the right’ to respond to Israel’s ‘blatant attack’, which is a ‘pivotal moment’ for the region.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles echoed Senator Wong’s comments, claiming the Australian government was ‘deeply concerned about Israel’s strikes on Qatar’.
‘The strikes by Israel on Qatar are a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty,’ he added.
