RIYADH: Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has strongly condemned Israel’s airstrike on the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday, describing it as a violation of sovereignty and warning of a dangerous erosion of international law.
Speaking to Arab News during a visit to Saudi Arabia this week, Tsahkna said: “We are living in very intense times. And the Israeli attack against Qatar, we have loudly condemned.
“We discussed this matter as well, with his highness, the (Saudi) foreign minister. Our position is very clear. This is a question of sovereignty, which is, for Estonia, a question of principle.”
The strike, which targeted senior Hamas leaders, even while Gaza ceasefire talks were ongoing, killed six people, including a Qatari security officer. Qatar denounced it as a grave violation of international law, with widespread international criticism following.
On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Tsahkna reiterated Estonia’s long-standing stance. “Estonia has had a very clear position over the years in supporting the two-state solution, and that is the only way out from this conflict,” he said. “Unfortunately, we don’t see the progress and goodwill as well. And of course, the attack against Qatar doesn’t support this process at all because Qatar and also Saudi Arabia and many other countries here in the region are playing the key role for bringing these negotiations together.”
He confirmed Estonia will join the declaration on two states at the upcoming UN General Assembly and said he was optimistic about the forthcoming Saudi-French summit on the issue in New York.
The foreign minister's statements to Arab News comes at a time when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza.
