Tensions escalated dramatically at the United Nations Security Council on September 12, 2025, as Pakistan and Israel engaged in a heated verbal confrontation during an emergency session. The clash centered on Israel’s recent airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders, which Pakistan branded as a blatant violation of international law. Moreover, Israel’s ambassador drew a controversial parallel to the 2011 US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, igniting accusations of double standards. As the session unfolded, allies like the US, France, and the UK joined in criticizing the strike, highlighting Israel’s growing isolation on the global stage. Consequently, the debate underscored broader concerns about regional stability and the fragility of peace negotiations in the Middle East.

The Spark: Israel’s Doha Strike and Pakistan’s Outrage

The controversy erupted from Israel’s September 9, 2025, airstrike on a residential compound in Doha, where Hamas representatives and their families resided as part of ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar. Pakistani Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad opened the session with a fierce condemnation, describing the attack as “illegal, unprovoked, and a threat to regional stability.”

He emphasized that the strike violated Qatar’s sovereignty under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and deliberately endangered civilians to sabotage diplomacy. Furthermore, Ahmad linked the incident to Israel’s “systematic disregard for international law,” including its actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

In addition, he highlighted Pakistan’s solidarity with Qatar, noting a recent visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Doha, which reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to the Gulf nation’s security. Therefore, Pakistan, alongside Algeria and Somalia, requested the emergency meeting, with support from France and the UK, to demand accountability beyond mere words.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani addressed the council under Rule 37, denouncing the attack for terrorizing residents in a negotiation hub. He stressed that the compound housed not just Hamas figures but also families involved in peace efforts.

As a result, the session revealed widespread condemnation; even the US called the strike “counterproductive,” joining all 15 UNSC members in rare unified criticism of Israel. France advocated for a two-state solution, while the UK warned that such actions endangered Israel’s own security.

Thus, the debate exposed deep divisions, with Pakistan leading calls to protect mediators like Qatar from aggression.

The Bin Laden Analogy

Now, Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon fired back, defending the Doha operation by invoking the US raid on bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

He argued that no one condemned the US for targeting a terrorist on foreign soil and accused critics of applying “double standards” to Israel.

“You cannot change the fact that Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan,” Danon stated, pointing directly at Ahmad and questioning why Hamas leaders deserved safe havens.

However, Ahmad immediately exercised Pakistan’s right of reply, dismissing the comparison as “unacceptable and ludicrous.” He countered that Israel, as an “occupier and serial violator of the UN Charter,” routinely threatens the international community with impunity.

In fact, Ahmad portrayed Israel as feigning victimhood while committing “state terrorism” in Gaza.

Additionally, the exchange drew in other voices; human rights advocate Hillel Neuer labeled Pakistan a “state sponsor of terrorism,” echoing Israel’s narrative on bin Laden. Yet, the council’s overall tone favored de-escalation, with calls for renewed Gaza talks and hostage releases.

The session aligned with a parallel UN General Assembly vote on September 12 endorsing a two-state solution declaration, which condemned both Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks and Israel’s Gaza siege—supported by 142 nations, including Gulf states, but opposed by Israel and the US.

Therefore, while no binding resolution passed, the clash amplified global pressure on Israel amid its ongoing operations.