The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (E3) — Jean-Noel Barrot, Johann Wadephul, and Yvette Cooper — issued a joint statement on Friday strongly condemning Israel’s recent strikes on Doha, Qatar, calling them a violation of sovereignty and a potential trigger for further escalation in the Middle East.
“Violation of sovereignty”
The E3 ministers stated that Israel’s actions “violate Qatar’s sovereignty and risk further escalation in the region”, adding that such operations undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Hostage deal at risk
The statement highlighted concerns that the strikes could derail progress toward a negotiated agreement with Hamas aimed at securing the release of hostages. “Israel’s actions pose a serious risk to achieving a negotiated deal,” the ministers warned, urging all parties to pursue dialogue.
Call for ceasefire
The officials reiterated their demand for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian relief for Gaza. They outlined their vision for a comprehensive deal that includes:
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A permanent ceasefire
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The release of all remaining hostages
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Flooding Gaza with aid to curb famine and humanitarian crisis
“The Ministers urge all parties to renew and redouble their efforts to agree on an immediate ceasefire,” the statement concluded.
