Expel terrorists or we will do it ourselves, Netanyahu warns Qatar, others

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning to Qatar and other countries accused of sheltering terrorists, demanding they expel, prosecute them or face Israeli retaliation.

Netanyahu, in a speech on Wednesday, directly linked the October 7 attacks on Israel to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

“Expel them or bring them to justice. Otherwise, we will do it ourselves,” he said, stressing that Israel would not hesitate to hunt down those responsible.

He described the October 7 assault as “the worst crime against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” vowing relentless pursuit of those behind it, just as the United States targeted Al-Qaeda leaders after 9/11.

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The Prime Minister singled out Qatar, accusing it of protecting Hamas leaders and financing their operations while offering them “luxurious villas and a safe haven.” 

He pointed to a recent Israeli strike in Qatar as an example of Israel’s stance that no country has the right to shelter terrorists, a position he noted the UN had also adopted after 9/11.

Netanyahu also dismissed international criticism of Israel’s actions, calling it “blatant hypocrisy.”

“When the United States eliminated Osama bin Laden, no one accused America of attacking Afghanistan or Pakistan. Instead, the world applauded. Today, it should applaud Israel for defending the same principles,” he said.

Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s resolve to strike its enemies “wherever they hide.”

Sharing a video of the speech on X, he captioned it: “I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will.”

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