Pakistan retaliated after Israel defended its Doha strikes, rejecting the sharp condemnation of its aggression against Qatar issued on Thursday by a majority of UN Security Council members and claiming that the US action against Osama bin Laden was not criticised.
"It is unacceptable, indeed, ludicrous, for an aggressor, an occupier, a serial violator of the UN Charter and international law - that is Israel - to abuse this chamber and disrespect the sanctity of this Council," said Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, in his right to reply.
"By pointing fingers on others, baseless assertions, primarily aimed at masking its own illegal actions and violations of international law," he explained to the Council's 15 members.
The exchange took place during the UN Security Council debate on the Middle East situation, which was convened by Pakistan, Algeria, and Somalia and presided over by South Korea.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Dannon remained defiant in his defense of Qatar's "illegal and unprovoked" attack, claiming that there is no sanctuary for terrorists in Gaza, Tehran, or Doha.
"There is no immunity for terrorists. History is not kind to accomplices." He warned that either Qatar condemns Hamas, expels Hamas, and brings Hamas to justice, or Israel will do so.
In a tough rebuttal, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said, "It (Israel) is an occupier that does not listen to anyone; that does not pay heed to any advice, even from its friends, if there are any left; that refutes, and not just refutes, it threatens members of the international community, international media, international human rights and humanitarian organizations, doesn't listen to the ICJ or the ICC, and threatens the UN and its senior officials; and it does that with impunity.
"Shielded by its apologists, who repeatedly admit to its illegal actions and defiance of the international community. And, like all occupiers, despite being the aggressor, it pretends to be the victim, but it is now completely exposed."
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stated that the unrelated bin Laden incident and his misleading remarks about Pakistan were intended to justify the country's own illegal actions and violations of international law. In fact, he refuted the false analogy.
The Pakistani envoy stated, "Pakistan's position on that incident has been clearly stated and is publicly available." He also emphasized Pakistan's frontline role in the fight against terrorism and its sacrifices.
"The entire world, including our partners, acknowledges that Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts have largely decimated Al Qaeda. And we remained committed to this global, collaborative effort.
"That is, in fact, the perpetrator of the worst kind of state terrorism that we are witnessing in Gaza, and in fact, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for decades," according to the Pakistani ambassador. "For whatever way it interprets these statements in this Council, the occupying power must go back and read carefully the statement issued by the Security Council today."
Earlier in his main statement, Ambassador Iftikhar stated that striking the territory of a principal mediator for a ceasefire and hostage agreement, as well as those involved in negotiations, is a deliberate attempt to sabotage diplomacy, derail peace efforts, and prolong civilian suffering.
"It is evident that Israel, the occupying power, is determined to undermine and destroy every possibility of peace," he said, questioning whether the release of hostages is truly a priority. "Sadly, Israel has been emboldened by the Council's weak response and inaction."
Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, condemned Israel's September 9 strike on a residential compound designated for negotiating teams, which housed Hamas representatives and their families. He described the attack as "a violation of the UN member state's sovereignty" and stated that it terrorized the residents of the neighbourhood.
"Israel, led by bloodthirsty extremists, has gone beyond any borders, any limitations when it comes to behaviour among states and individuals," the Qatari premier stressed. "Have you heard of any state that is attacking the mediator in this way? A state that attacks Qatari-hosted negotiating teams?"
He criticised Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's "shameful justification", contrasting it with the Taliban's political bureau in Doha, which facilitated the Washington, DC-Taliban talks that ended the war in Afghanistan.
"The United States has never targeted the negotiators," he said, warning that Israel is destabilizing the region and jeopardizing any chance for peace. "We call for peace, not war, and we will not be deterred by those who call for war and destruction."
