New Delhi: India on Tuesday (September 16) told the United Nations Human Rights Council that it “unequivocally condemns” Israel's strike on Doha as a violation of Qatar's sovereignty, reiterating its condemnation first voiced last week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a call with the Qatari leadership.

Its remarks came days after the UN Security Council “condemned” the Israeli strike – albeit without naming Israel – and expressed “solidarity with Qatar” in a statement assented to by the US, which often scuppers efforts that are critical of ally Tel Aviv.

Delivering India's statement during an urgent debate at the Council’s 60th session, permanent representative Arindam Bagchi said: “We unequivocally condemn the violation of the sovereignty of Qatar. Such actions threaten peace, stability and security, not only in the region but across the world.”

He said India was “deeply concerned about the recent attacks in Doha and their impact on the security situation in the region”.

Stressing that disputes must be resolved “peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy, in full conformity with the principles of the UN Charter and international law”, he cautioned that “any escalation must be avoided, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states must be upheld”.

Bagchi also underlined India’s opposition to terrorism. “We stand firmly in support of peace and stability in the region, and against terrorism in any form or manifestation. We call upon the international community to remain united in efforts towards attaining peace and upholding the rule of law. As a close partner, India reiterates its solidarity with Qatar and its people,” he said.

Opening the discussion, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the September 9 strike “a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world.”

Qatar urged Council members to hold Israel accountable, describing the strike as “state terrorism”. Saudi Arabia criticised the Israeli attack on Qatar as “nothing but another link in a long chain of crimes that Israel has become accustomed to committing”.

The urgent debate in Geneva was convened after Tel Aviv's strike on Doha, which targeted senior Hamas leaders who were discussing terms for a peace deal proposal with Israel.

While five Hamas members and a Qatari security guard were killed, the targeted leaders survived.

The missile attack has prompted Gulf Arab states to close ranks, with Doha hosting a summit of Arab and Islamic states on Monday.

Qatar denounced the attack as an infringement of its sovereignty and said it undermined its mediation in ceasefire negotiations.

On September 11, Modi in a call with the Emir of Qatar had condemned the strike as an “infringement of Qatar’s sovereignty”.

It was the first time India had publicly condemned an Israeli action during the ongoing Gaza war, even though he didn’t take Israel’s name.

Tuesday’s remarks in Geneva repeated that position in a multilateral forum, adding India’s voice to states warning against escalation.

A day earlier before Modi’s call, the Ministry of External Affairs had issued a brief statement expressing concern on the missile attack, but had not used the term “condemn”. There had also been no mention of violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.

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