The United Nations Human Rights Council will today hold an emergency debate over Israel’s recent airstrike on Qatar, which targeted Hamas leaders in the Gulf state.
The council confirmed that the session was scheduled following two formal requests — one submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the other by Kuwait representing the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. This marks the 10th urgent debate convened by the council since its establishment in 2006.
According to details shared on Monday, the discussion will focus on what the council described as “the recent military aggression carried out by the State of Israel against the State of Qatar on 9 September 2025.” The airstrike in Doha left five Hamas members dead along with a Qatari security officer, sparking sharp condemnation from across the region, including from Gulf monarchies traditionally allied with Washington, Israel’s strongest supporter.
The fallout has continued to ripple internationally. Reports from London indicate that the Royal College of Defence Studies — a postgraduate institution under the UK’s Defence Academy — will bar Israeli officers from its programs amid ongoing tensions over the Gaza war. The college, known for training senior military and civil service leaders worldwide, had previously confirmed to British lawmakers that fewer than five Israeli military officers were enrolled in non-combat academic courses.
The UK Ministry of Defence has yet to comment on the ban. However, the move follows Britain’s decision to suspend certain arms export licences to Israel, while still allowing some exemptions, such as parts for Israeli F-35 fighter jets. Just last week, Israeli representatives were excluded from a major London arms fair, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government seeks to recalibrate its stance on Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
