Qatar has called for intensified diplomatic efforts and strict adherence to international law as essential steps toward securing lasting peace in the Middle East. The statements were made during a United Nations Security Council open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,” held in New York.
Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, emphasized that peaceful settlements remain the only viable means to achieve regional stability. She highlighted ongoing tensions since February 28, which have undermined security, stability, and development across the region. In this context, Qatar condemned Iranian attacks that it said violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself and other countries in the Middle East. Sheikha Alya urged full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2817, adopted earlier in March, which addresses these issues.
Qatar also stressed the critical importance of protecting freedom of navigation through key maritime routes, notably the Strait of Hormuz. The strait’s ongoing closure, she warned, threatens both regional interests and the global economy. Qatar rejected using the strait as a tool for political pressure and called for its unconditional reopening. Doha is actively mediating between the United States and Iran to help ease tensions and supports parallel mediation efforts led by Pakistan.
Sheikha Alya strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which resulted in casualties and damage. The attacks were described as serious violations of Saudi sovereignty. Qatar reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, affirming that the kingdom’s security is integral to Qatar’s own safety and to the collective security architecture of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Palestinian issue remains central to Qatar’s peace efforts. The Qatari envoy noted ongoing mediation alongside Egypt, the United States, and Turkey, which contributed to a ceasefire in Gaza. Qatar called for full implementation of the U.S. administration’s comprehensive peace plan, endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2803, as a pathway to resolving the humanitarian crisis, facilitating reconstruction, and advancing long-term peace. Sheikha Alya urged all parties to act in good faith and without delay in fulfilling their commitments.
Qatar firmly rejected any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians or alter the demographic and geographic characteristics of the occupied Palestinian territories. The envoy condemned Israeli settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and criticized settlement expansion, including the E1 settlement plan, emphasizing that such actions undermine peace prospects. Doha reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international resolutions.
On Syria, Qatar reiterated support for the country’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. The Qatari representative welcomed the U.S. decision to remove Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and noted the International Atomic Energy Agency’s closure of Syria’s non-compliance file. At the same time, she condemned Israeli violations of Syrian territory and called on the international community to ensure compliance with relevant resolutions, especially the 1974 disengagement agreement.
Regarding Lebanon, Qatar reaffirmed support for the country’s sovereignty and opposed Israeli statements suggesting annexation of areas in southern Lebanon. She called on the international community to urge Israel to halt attacks on Lebanon and to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701.