Qatar PM says Netanyahu “needs to be brought to justice” after Doha strike

Qatar's prime minister warned Wednesday that an unprecedented ‘Israeli’ strike in Doha targeting Hamas killed hope for Gaza captives, calling for ‘Israeli’ leader Benjamin Netanyahu to be "brought to justice".

His comments came a day after deadly strikes targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar -- a US ally -- a first in the oil-rich Gulf that rattled a region long shielded from conflict.

“We were thinking that we are dealing with civilized people…That’s the way we are dealing with others. And the action that (Netanyahu) took – I cannot describe it, but it’s a barbaric action.”

"I think that what Netanyahu has done yesterday, he just killed any hope for those hostages," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told CNN.

The attack in Doha was nothing less than “state terror,” Al-Thani said. “We are betrayed.”

“I was meeting one of the hostage’s families the morning of the attack,” Al-Thani said. “They are counting on this (ceasefire) mediation, they have no other hope for that.”

Doha is "reassessing everything" around their involvement in future ceasefire talks and discussing next steps with Washington, he added in comments cited in CNN's live blog after an interview with the broadcaster.

“I’ve been rethinking, even about the entire process for the last few weeks, that Netanyahu was just wasting our time,” Al-Thani said.

“He wasn’t serious about anything,” he added, as he dismissed recent talks as “meaningless.”

The attack, just three months after Iran launched a retaliatory strike on a US airbase in Qatar, also cast serious doubt on Qatar-mediated Gaza ceasefire talks and undermined security reassurances to the Gulf from key ally Washington.

Earlier Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that ‘Israel’ would "act against its enemies anywhere" while Netanyahu urged Qatar to expel Hamas officials or hold them to account, "because if you don't, we will".

Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 with Washington's blessing, and has been a key mediator in Gaza talks alongside Egypt and the United States.

When asked about the fate of Hamas’ chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. Al-Thani said: “Until now … there is no official declaration.”

“We are trying to identify if there is any other one missing…There are Qataris who are in a very dangerous situation,” he added.

Regional response

The Qatari PM said he hopes there will be “collective response” to the ‘Israeli’ strike on Doha.

“There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region,” Al-Thani said.

“I’m following up with all the US officials in order to see what kind of actions can be taken as we speak,” he added, pointing to an Arab-Islamic summit that will be held in Doha soon.

“There is a collective response that should happen from the region,” Al-Thani said, “We are hoping for something meaningful that deters Israel from continuing this bullying.”