Israel 'doesn't care about hostages': Qatar's leader

Israel's leaders showed they "do not care" about the hostages held in the Gaza Strip through its attack this week on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar's prime minister told the United Nations as he vowed to keep pressing for peace.

With the deadly attack on the US ally, Israel has "gone beyond any borders, any limitations," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

However, Qatar would not give up on efforts to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza and would "continue our humanitarian and diplomatic role without any hesitation in order to stop the bloodshed," he said.

The strike killed at least six people as Hamas leaders gathered in Doha to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, risking upending negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt and intensifying Israel's growing global isolation.

"Extremists that rule Israel today do not care about the hostages ? otherwise, how do we justify the timing of this attack?" Sheikh Mohammed said. Earlier, he told CNN that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was directly to blame for killing "any hope for those hostages."

In response, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said that "history will not be kind to accomplices."

"Either Qatar condemns Hamas, expels Hamas, and brings Hamas to justice. Or Israel will," Danon said.

Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said: "It is inappropriate for any member to use this to question Israel's commitment to bringing their hostages home."

Sheikh Mohammed accused Israel of "trying to rearrange the region by force" but said "we believe fully in mediation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and Qatar's role is being appreciated worldwide."

The Security Council earlier issued a joint statement expressing "deep concern" without mentioning Israel by name and emphasising "de-escalation." Approved by the 15-member council, including the US, the statement also conveyed its solidarity with Qatar and the "vital role" it's played in mediating peace efforts in recent years.

President Donald Trump has walked a delicate line between two major allies following the Israeli attack, saying the unilateral action "did not advance Israel or America's goals." He has said he's "not thrilled about it" but also suggested that "this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace."

During the Security Council session, Shea repeated Trump's sentiments and defended Israel's decision to target Hamas leaders.

"Eliminating Hamas, which has profited off of the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal," she said.

Hamas spokesperson Fawzy Barhoum said Israel's attack constituted a "derailment of negotiations efforts" and showed that Netanyahu and his backers "refuse to reach a deal."

Hamas says its senior leaders survived the Doha strike but that five lower-level members were killed.

The United Arab Emirates said Thursday that more "provocative and hostile rhetoric" from Israel undermines stability and "pushes the region towards extremely dangerous trajectories."

The UAE's Foreign Ministry said an aggression against any of the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council ? which includes Qatar ? "constitutes an attack on the collective Gulf security framework."

The Qatari prime minister will be visiting New York and Washington on Friday, and is expected to meet Trump and US officials to discuss the Israeli strike and the status of ceasefire talks in Gaza, Politico reported.

Qatar also said it was organising an Arab-Islamic summit next week in Doha to discuss the attack.

Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians continued to flee Gaza City ahead of Israel's impending offensive there. Many have refused to leave, saying they no longer have the strength or money to relocate.

The operation is aimed at taking over the largest Palestinian city, already devastated from earlier raids and experiencing famine.

Israel has denied there is starvation in Gaza, even after experts last month announced a famine in Gaza City.