Source: Government of Qatar
Vienna | September 12, 2026
The State of Qatar has condemned, in the strongest terms, the Houthi group’s targeting of civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as the renewed attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the territories of several Arab states. Qatar further affirmed its full solidarity with these nations and its categorical rejection of any schemes aimed at the forced displacement of the Palestinian people.
This statement was delivered by HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna, Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi before the session of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. The statement was made under the “Any Other Business” agenda item regarding Iranian aggression against Arab states and the situation in occupied Palestine.
His Excellency expressed Qatar’s strong condemnation of the Houthi group’s targeting of civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as its continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which threatens the security, safety, and freedom of international maritime navigation.
He affirmed Qatar’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all legitimate measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity in the face of such blatant aggression.
His Excellency also condemned the recent attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the territories of Arab states-specifically the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates-describing them as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the targeted states, and a blatant breach of international law, the UN Charter, and the principles of good-neighborly relations.
In this context, His Excellency recalled Security Council Resolution 2817, adopted in March 2026, which condemned in the strongest terms Iranian attacks on Arab states, deeming them a violation of international law and a grave threat to international peace and security. The resolution called upon Iran to immediately refrain from any acts or threats violating international law and to respect freedom of international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz-a principle firmly established in international law.
His Excellency reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s steadfast position advocating a return to dialogue and negotiations and a halt to any military escalation in the Arabian Gulf region. He warned that continued Iranian aggression represents a dangerous escalation that could undermine political and diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving regional security and stability, while further deepening the crisis of trust.
His Excellency emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran bears full legal responsibility for these attacks and their resulting consequences. He stressed that the repercussions of the current crisis are not limited to the countries of the region but extend to global energy, trade, maritime navigation, and supply chains, as well as to international peace and security as a whole, noting that addressing this crisis is a shared regional and international responsibility.
Regarding developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ambassador Al Hammadi emphasized that ongoing events in the Arabian Gulf region must not overshadow the priority of the Palestinian cause, which he described as “a bleeding wound in the conscience of humanity.” He explained that Israel’s refusal to implement international resolutions affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination-including the establishment of their independent state-stems from its conviction that it enjoys impunity. He noted that if the international community were to alter this perception through practical measures, it would put an end to these appalling actions; the Palestinian people would realize their right to self-determination, the goal of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would be achieved, and the region would enjoy security, stability, and prosperity for all.
He pointed to the persistence of Israeli policies involving land annexation, forced displacement, and escalating violations of Palestinian rights in the occupied territories. He highlighted recent examples of this, citing statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
He emphasized that such statements constitute a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and UN Security Council resolutions-particularly Resolution 2334, which condemned all Israeli measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967-and stressed the necessity of halting all settlement activities.
His Excellency affirmed the State of Qatar’s categorical rejection and condemnation of any attempts or schemes aimed at the forced displacement of the Palestinian people-who remain steadfast in their attachment to their land and homeland. He noted that such attempts, in addition to violating international law and Security Council resolutions, pose a direct threat to international efforts to achieve peace-foremost among them the comprehensive US peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza, which is backed by Security Council Resolution 2803.
His Excellency the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar in Vienna emphasized that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory. He further asserted that the only path to achieving a just and lasting peace lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions.
