INTERNATIONAL: Laden’s Shadow: Israel’s UNSC Jab at Pakistan
A charged exchange unfolded at the UN Security Council on September 12, 2025, as Israel’s envoy invoked the 2011 U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden to defend recent strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar.
The session, marking the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, saw Pakistan condemn the action as unlawful aggression.
All 15 council members united in a statement supporting Qatar’s sovereignty, yet the verbal sparring exposed deep rifts on counterterrorism and regional mediation.
Qatar Strike Sparks Outrage
On September 9, Israeli forces targeted a residential compound in Doha housing Hamas political bureau members and families, amid U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks.
Five Hamas affiliates and one Qatari security personnel perished, though key leaders survived.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani addressed the council, decrying the breach as an assault on its mediator role in Gaza negotiations. He vowed continued diplomatic efforts despite the violation.
Pakistan’s Strong Stance
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad labeled the strikes “illegal and unprovoked,” part of Israel’s pattern of violations in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen. He called for accountability to safeguard regional stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed this, terming the incident a “dangerous provocation” after discussions with Qatar’s Emir.
Israel’s Fiery Rebuttal
Israel’s Permanent Representative Danny Danon directly challenged Ahmad, questioning why the focus falls on targeting terrorists abroad rather than granting them sanctuary.
He paralleled the Doha operation to the Abbottabad raid that eliminated bin Laden, hidden in Pakistan for years.
“When bin Laden was eliminated in Pakistan, the question was not ‘why target a terrorist on foreign soil?’ The question was, ‘why was a terrorist given shelter at all?’ There was no immunity for bin Laden, and there can be no immunity for Hamas,” Danon asserted.
Danon cited UNSC Resolution 1373, adopted post-9/11, which bars states from harboring or funding terrorists, accusing critics of double standards against Israel.
Echoes of 9/11
The timing amplified the rhetoric, with Danon noting no condemnation followed the U.S. action in Pakistan. He urged consistent application of international norms to prevent selective outrage.
U.S. President Donald Trump voiced solidarity with Qatar during a call with its Emir while emphasizing de-escalation.
The confrontation highlights persistent tensions between security doctrines and diplomatic neutrality in the Middle East.