Doha: The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have strongly condemned Israel’s large-scale ground operation in Gaza, warning that it endangers Palestinian civilians and violates international law.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 17, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the offensive as an extension of a “genocidal war” against the Palestinian people and called it a serious threat to regional and international peace.
The Qatari government accused Israel of undermining efforts towards Middle East peace through aggressive settlement and colonial policies. Qatar warned of the severe consequences of the Gaza conflict and urged the international community to enforce global legal resolutions aimed at protecting Palestinian rights.
In its statement, Doha reaffirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the resilience of the Palestinian people. The Ministry stressed its commitment to the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Qatar called for urgent international intervention to halt Israel’s military actions and ensure adherence to international law.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli incursions “in the strongest terms”, criticizing the international community for failing to halt violations of international and humanitarian law.
Riyadh called on the UN Security Council to take immediate measures to stop killings, displacement, and starvation in Gaza, and to implement all relevant resolutions to protect innocent lives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday, September 16, that Israeli forces had escalated their military offensive in Gaza. The ground operation aims to gain full control over Gaza City and defeat Hamas militarily and politically.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee confirmed the intensified campaign on social media, pledging to achieve all war objectives, including the safe return of kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
In an effort to ease the humanitarian crisis, Israel opened a temporary transit route for Gaza City residents to evacuate southwards via Salah al-Din Street. The corridor will be available for 48 hours starting at midday on September 17. Civilians have been urged to use marked routes and follow security instructions for safe passage.
The Gaza Strip continues to suffer heavy civilian casualties amid the ongoing bombardment. Medical officials reported 17 deaths on Wednesday, with 108 fatalities recorded on Tuesday alone, predominantly in northern Gaza. Thousands of residents are displaced as the conflict intensifies.
Editor’s note: This headline and article has been updated to include Saudi Arabia’s statement condemning Israel’s ground operation in Gaza.
