Sheikh Tamim calls for diplomacy, dialogue and condemns Gaza genocide at UNGA

Qatar’s Amir used his UNGA address to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, urge diplomatic solutions to regional crises and reaffirm Doha’s commitment to mediation and peace.Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani used his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to call for diplomatic solutions to regional crises, condemn Israel’s attacks and violations in Gaza, and reaffirm Qatar’s mediation and humanitarian efforts.In his opening remarks, Sheikh Tamim said the global economy should not become a tool of political pressure, warning that such crises drive up the prices of food and medicine and affect people who have no connection to the causes of conflict.Addressing the Gulf crisis, he said Qatar remained deeply convinced that it could be resolved through diplomacy, including by reopening the Strait of Hormuz to navigation and returning to negotiations to prevent war.“The opportunity for a possible and realistic peaceful diplomatic solution, in our view, must not be missed,” he said, adding that such a solution should lead to lasting security and stability for the entire region, including Iran.Turning to Gaza, Sheikh Tamim said: “There can be no talk of a just international order as long as Palestine remains a blind spot in it.”He described what had happened in Gaza as “genocide in every sense of the word” and “a stain of shame on the brow of humanity”, warning that future generations would be astonished by “the huge gap between the catastrophe and the level of the international response to stop it”.He said the crisis was continuing while Israeli leaders were openly advocating the displacement of Gaza’s population, which they called “migration”.Sheikh Tamim also criticised attempts to explain international opposition to Israel’s violations and attacks through accusations of antisemitism or conspiracy theories, asking: “As if there are no social media platforms, as if Israeli soldiers have not boasted about their crimes in sound and image, as if images of the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza have not been circulated by an entire generation of young people across the world.”He reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to mediation, stressing: “From the first day, the State of Qatar will not stop its mediation efforts to stop the bloodshed, alleviate the suffering of civilians and secure the release of the prisoners and detainees until a ceasefire is achieved.”He added that Qatar was continuing its efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and move towards lasting peace, while calling on Israel to fulfil its commitments under the agreement, including a permanent halt to operations, withdrawal from Gaza, the lifting of the blockade and the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid.The Amir warned that the international community had a direct responsibility to ensure the implementation of the agreement and criticised the continued occupation and violence in the region.#Qatar’s Amir Sheikh @TamimBinHamad Al Thani said the country’s foreign policy is based on four key elements: protecting its vital interests, its internationally recognised role in mediation, humanitarian action, and principled positions consistent with international law and… pic.twitter.com/bUz0SO40hb— Doha News (@dohanews) September 22, 2026 Referring to the principle of international law, he said: “Either the law is the same for everyone, or it loses its meaning when it is applied to the weak and the powerful are exempted from it.”Sheikh Tamim also outlined Qatar’s positions on conflicts and political crises across the region, reaffirming support for state institutions, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political dialogue in Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Lebanon and Yemen.He said Qatar’s foreign policy was based on protecting its vital interests, mediation, humanitarian action and principled positions consistent with international law and international legitimacy.He stressed that the country’s approach to resilience, dialogue, diplomacy and peace-building was rooted in the legacy of its leaders, from Qatar’s Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani to the late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.Concluding his address, Sheikh Tamim reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and dialogue, saying: “Peaceful coexistence and dialogue are not one option among many; they are the only path that leaves no victor and no vanquished.”“Qatar will always be a seeker and facilitator of peace,” he added.