‘Enough is enough’: Qatar’s emir takes aim at Israel’s backers

DOHA: The Qatari ruler hit out at Israel’s backers on Tuesday, charging they had given it “free licence to kill” in Gaza and questioning what would it bring security and stability to the region.

Major powers, including the United States, Britain and France, have rallied to support Israel and affirmed its right to defend itself after this month’s raid by Hamas.

“We are saying enough is enough,” Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani told a meeting of the Shura Council, Qatar’s legislative body, according to a translation released by the royal court.

“It is untenable for Israel to be given an unconditional green light and free licence to kill, nor is it tenable to continue ignoring the reality of occupation, siege and settlement.” “It should not be allowed in our time to use cutting off water and preventing medicine and food as weapons against an entire population,” the emir said, referring to Israel’s siege of Gaza.

“We call for an earnest regional and international stance vis-a-vis this dangerous escalation that we are witnessing, and which threatens the security of the region and the world.” He added: “We would like to ask those who have aligned with the war, and those acting to gag any dissenting opinion: what would come in the aftermath of this war? “Would it bring security and stability to Israelis and Palestinians? Where would the Palestinians head for afterwards?”.