Kenya and Rwanda have joined Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Somalia in condemning Israel’s recent airstrike on Qatar’s capital, Doha.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 11 September, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack was “a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar” and warned that it posed a threat to both regional and global peace. Nairobi noted that Israel’s actions breached international law and went against the United Nations’ 1970 Declaration on Friendly Relations and Cooperation.
On the same day, Rwanda issued a strongly worded response, describing Israel’s actions as “wanton trampling of foundational norms of interstate relations” that risked dragging the world into “a no-rules-based order.” Kigali criticised what it called complacency by the international community, saying such inaction allowed chaos and instability to grow.
The condemnations follow Nigeria’s earlier call for respect of national sovereignty and adherence to international law in matters involving military force across borders. Somalia also demanded urgent intervention by the United Nations Security Council to halt Israel’s repeated strikes and protect civilians.
The latest tensions stem from Israel’s airstrike on 9 September, which targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha. Israeli media reported that 12 missiles were fired, killing five Hamas members. Qatar condemned the attack, saying it undermined ongoing efforts toward a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to reports, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians since October 2023, with widespread destruction plunging the territory into famine. Growing calls are being made for international action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who already faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
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