‘Yes, Netanyahu is a war criminal,’ says Qatar’s PM-FM on Piers Morgan Uncensored

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says the October 7 attack must be condemned, but argues Israel’s subsequent genocide in Gaza cannot be justified, as he calls for accountability over war crimes.Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal, saying those responsible for war crimes in Gaza must be held accountable.In an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, aired on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed said the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack should be condemned, but argued that it did not justify Israel’s subsequent genocide in Gaza.Sheikh Mohammed pointed to more than 70,000 people killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, as well as hospitals and schools being targeted, adding that “whatever the justifications and the arguments, nothing is justifying this.”He also criticised what he described as Israel’s near-daily violations of the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, saying more than 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza had been killed since the agreement was reached.“Almost 70% of the Strip is occupied and not allowed by the Israeli forces. They are not fulfilling their commitments under this agreement, which shows they have different intentions,” the Qatari PM-FM said in the interview.Israel rejected proposal to free captives Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar’s efforts to halt the war and secure ceasefires had been repeatedly undermined. He shared that Doha approached Israeli officials on the first day of the war in Gaza with a proposal to secure the release of all Israeli civilian captives, but Israel rejected the idea.“They said that, look, if they [Hamas] want to release them, let them go without doing anything,” he noted.#Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh @MBA_AlThani_ said #Doha approached Israeli officials on the first day of the war in Gaza with a proposal to secure the release of all Israeli civilian captives, but Israel rejected the idea.⁠⁠Speaking in an… pic.twitter.com/1my8Yx3Thq— Doha News (@dohanews) September 30, 2026 Sheikh Mohammed was also asked about reports that the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a possible Hamas attack days before October 7, 2023.Sheikh Mohammed said there had been “many indications” of a potential escalation, but only confirmed Qatar’s outreach to Israeli officials on the first day of Israel’s war on the besieged enclave.‘Absurd’ claims over university funding Sheikh Mohammed also rejected “false” and “absurd” allegations that Qatar funds universities, journalists and others in the U.S. to influence public opinion against Israel.He said that Netanyahu was seeking to shift attention from his government’s actions and the war crimes and genocide being committed in Gaza.“He’s [Benjamin Netanyahu] just trying to gaslight the public. And for him, anyone, every celebrity, every journalist, every influencer, every student who will be vocal about the war crimes and the genocide being committed in Gaza, he will start to blame others for this instead of looking at his own behaviour and his government’s behaviour,” Sheikh Mohammed told Piers MorganHe added that Doha was funding universities that operate in Qatar and have campuses there, rather than students or their content.Continuing the conversation, the Qatar PM-FM said that the Gulf country began building partnerships with American, British and French universities nearly 30 years ago, when governments across the political spectrum encouraged cooperation with academia to help Qatar leverage knowledge and expertise for its liquefied natural gas sector and wider development.Mediation is key to Qatar’s foreign policy He also stressed that regional stability is essential for Qatar’s progress and prosperity, emphasising that a small nation cannot grow while surrounded by conflict.“The leadership is determined that we cannot be just sitting silent without trying our best to make sure that we get the best for our region and for our country,” he explained, adding that mediation has long been a central part of Qatar’s foreign policy, with Doha seeking to maintain ties and open channels with all sides.⁠⁠Sheikh Mohammed added that the role of mediation remains challenging, but that Qatar continues to use diplomacy and dialogue to help resolve conflicts.⁠#Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh @MBA_AlThani_ said mediation has long been a central part of Qatar’s foreign policy, with #Doha seeking to maintain ties and open channels with all sides.⁠ ⁠ Sheikh Mohammed made the remarks on Tuesday on Piers… pic.twitter.com/gVmgPL0eBY— Doha News (@dohanews) September 30, 2026