Pakistan and Israel engaged in a verbal spat at the the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday as Islamabad slammed Tel Aviv’s recent attack in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders, calling it “illegal, unprovoked, and a threat to regional stability”.
This exchange took place during an emergency session convened to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The meeting was requested by Algeria, Pakistan, and Somalia, with support from France and the United Kingdom.
Pakistan’s Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad began his speech with a strong condemnation of the Israeli strike, calling it a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and a “brazen and illegal act.”
He said, “This illegal and brazen attack is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader, ongoing pattern of Israeli aggression and violations of international law that undermine peace and stability in the region.”
Asim Iftikhar further said that the Israeli strike targeted a residential area, deliberately endangering civilian lives, and thus constituted a “grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
He described the attack as a direct challenge to diplomacy, coming at a time when sensitive negotiations regarding Gaza were moving toward potential success.
According to him, “Targeting the territory of a key mediator and individuals involved in direct negotiations is a deliberate attempt to sabotage diplomacy, derail peace efforts, and worsen civilian suffering.”
He also labeled the Israeli attack a violation of the United Nations Charter, specifically Article 2(4), which prohibits the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
The Pakistani ambassador warned that the strike was part of a long-standing Israeli policy of cross-border operations in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen. He said, “This is yet another example of Israel’s systematic violation of international law and its blatant policy of destabilizing the region.”
On the other hand, the Israeli ambassador began his speech by citing the example of Osama bin Laden’s killing in Pakistan to justify the strike on Doha. He said, “When bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, the question was not why a terrorist was targeted on foreign soil, but why a terrorist was given sanctuary. The same question applies today. There was no exemption for bin Laden, and there should be none for Hamas.”
Pakistan immediately exercised its right of reply. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad rejected the comparison as “unacceptable and absurd,” accusing Israel of trying to divert attention from its “illegal actions and violations of international law.”
He said, “Israel is an occupying power that consistently violates the UN Charter and international law, threatens the global community, human rights organizations, and even the United Nations itself — and does all of this with impunity. Despite being the aggressor, it portrays itself as the victim, but today, it stands completely exposed.”
He also highlighted Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism, saying, “The international community is well aware that Pakistan has made enormous sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Al-Qaeda was largely dismantled due to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, and we remain committed to this collective struggle.”
In response, the Israeli ambassador accused Pakistan and others of double standards. He said, “Maybe my words hurt them, and if so, I apologize. But I always speak based on facts. The fact is, Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, and no one criticized the U.S. for it. When other countries attack terrorists, no one condemns them.”
