ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that Islamabad has requested an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss Israel’s “brazen attacks” against Qatar, saying they were aimed at undermining ceasefire efforts in Gaza.

Israeli airstrikes hit a civilian neighborhood in Doha on Tuesday to target Hamas leaders, killing at least six, including a Qatari security guard. Hamas confirmed after the strike that Israel had sought to kill its negotiators.

Qatar has played a central role in efforts to mediate peace in Gaza, allowing Hamas’ political bureau to operate from its territory as part of negotiations.

In a statement on social media platform X, Dar said Pakistan had strongly condemned the “unprovoked airstrikes,” describing them as a “dangerous escalation” in an already volatile region.

“In response, Pakistan has requested, along with Algeria & Somalia, an Emergency #UNSC meeting to formally bring this matter before the Security Council, urging it to consider Israel’s aggression against Qatar as a grave threat to international peace and security,” Dar wrote.

The Pakistani deputy premier said Islamabad has also called on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and together with its Gulf Cooperation Council partners, to convene an urgent debate on the matter, “so that the Council can hold Israel accountable for its brazen attack on Doha.”

Dar said Pakistan had also welcomed Qatar’s decision to host an Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on Sept. 15. He said Islamabad had formally conveyed to the OIC Secretariat of Pakistan’s readiness to co-sponsor and co-convene the summit for a united Arab-Islamic response to Israel’s “aggression.”

“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the leadership, Government & brotherly people of Qatar,” he wrote. “The international community must collectively condemn Israel’s violation in the strongest terms.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack. He said that no other example exists of “such barbarity, cruelty and oppression.”

Israel’s attack takes place amid its military operations in Gaza. More than 64,600 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023.

Qatari officials denounced the strike as a “criminal attack” and a “flagrant violation” of international law that endangered the security of both Qatari citizens and foreign residents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the assault was a “wholly independent Israeli operation” for which his government took “full responsibility.”