Doha: Al-Raya newspaper spotlighted Israel’s policy of siege and starvation against Palestinians, describing it as one of the most dangerous forms of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The editorial emphasized Qatar’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, especially at the United Nations, to advocate for the protection of Palestinians and to demand an end to Israeli violations.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Raya squarely placed blame on the Israeli occupation for the deepening humanitarian catastrophe, highlighting Israel’s use of food and aid as weapons of war in a calculated campaign to subjugate the Palestinian people. The paper underscored that this policy not only breaches the Geneva Conventions but constitutes a crime of collective punishment.
The editorial also spotlighted Qatar’s formal efforts at the United Nations. Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, reaffirmed Doha’s unequivocal rejection of using food as a weapon. She stressed the imperative to protect civilians and prevent them from becoming hostages in armed conflicts, urging the international community to exert immediate pressure on Israel to halt its violations.
Al Raya further criticized what it described as a suspicious plan by the Israeli occupation to control the distribution of aid in Gaza, an initiative that aims to categorize Palestinians according to criteria aligned with Israeli interests, in what the paper views as an attempt to impose a new political reality.
The editorial argued that this plan is not just about control, but a step toward the forced displacement of Palestinians by narrowing their options for survival. It noted that this was a tactic Israel used in past phases of the conflict.
The paper said that the plan has been met with clear opposition from the UN Secretary-General, who urged the international community to reject the plan and reaffirmed that UN agencies are fully capable of delivering aid impartially and effectively.
Al Raya called on the international community to hold Israel accountable by ensuring the permanent and safe opening of crossings into Gaza for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. It stressed that ending the Israeli aggression is a fundamental prerequisite for halting the humanitarian collapse.
The editorial concluded by calling for a genuine international effort to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region, emphasizing that humanitarian aid alone is not enough without the political will to end the occupation and its colonial and racist policies.