Doha: The General Assembly of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions has called for urgent political and legal measures in response to the recent Israeli airstrike on Qatar, describing it as a serious violation of international law and human rights.

In an emergency meeting held yesterday in Doha - convened by Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) - the assembly recommended supporting the outcomes of the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Doha on Monday, particularly the call to suspend Israel's UN membership under Article 5 of the UN Charter.

The network also urged the activation of political and diplomatic pressure to halt Israeli violations, accelerate international accountability processes, and expand legal efforts to include the attack on Qatari territory.

The statement voiced strong support for the independence of international courts and stressed the need to protect judges and legal professionals from political pressure and global bullying.

NHRC Chairperson H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah condemned the Israeli strike in her opening remarks, describing the attack as a deliberate assault on densely populated areas, including schools, kindergartens, diplomatic missions, and other civilian facilities in Doha.

This brutal aggression resulted in severe human rights violations, most notably the killing of six civilians, including a member of the internal security force who died while performing a public duty, she said.

Her excellency added that many others, including police officers and civilians, sustained injuries-some in critical condition.

Al Attiyah added that the NHRC had documented all violations and highlighted the psychological toll on the civilian population, particularly children, women, and vulnerable groups. She noted a worsening of health conditions for patients with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, exacerbated by fear and trauma.

The attack also temporarily disrupted access to education for over 1,000 students, as several schools were damaged and families were gripped by fear, further affecting children's mental wellbeing and right to education.

The emergency session was described as a collective response by Arab human rights institutions to a clear breach of international law and an attack on Qatar's sovereignty and stability.

Al Attiyah emphasized that the meeting reflects a shared commitment to human rights and accountability, especially amid the ongoing failure of the international community to take decisive action against Israel's repeated violations and culture of impunity. - QNA

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