Qatar Emir describes what is happening in region as 'collective genocide'

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani said on Thursday said the crisis in the Middle East is a “collective genocide” and that his country has always warned about the “impunity” enjoyed by Israel, Reuters has reported.

“It has become crystal clear that what is happening is genocide, in addition to turning the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human habitation, in preparation for displacement,” said Sheikh Tamim during the Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha.

The emir also condemned Israeli air strikes and military operations “against the brotherly Lebanese Republic.”

Almost 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the Israeli offensive which started almost exactly a year ago. A further 97,000 have been wounded, with an estimated 11,000 missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure destroyed by the occupation armed forces.

This week, Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon against the Lebanese Hezbollah movement. The occupation state and Hezbollah have been exchanging cross-border fire since last October. According to the movement, it has been acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.

READ: Palestinians in Lebanon refugee camp ‘reliving the Nakba’