Following Qatar's statements at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) debate, in which it called Israel's actions in Gaza a crime, accused Israel of starving civilians and carrying out a "colonialist campaign," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) called on Qatar to choose a side on Saturday.
"The time has come for Qatar to stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it's on the side of civilization or if it's on the side of Hamas barbarism. Israel will win this just war with just means," the PMO wrote.
"Israel is fighting a just war with just means. After the October 7 atrocities, Prime Minister Netanyahu defined the War of Redemption as a war between civilization and barbarism," the statement added.
Qatar later rejected the statements as "inflammatory."
"The State of Qatar firmly rejects the inflammatory statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which fall far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari posted on X early on Sunday.
Al-Ansari criticized the portrayal of the Gaza conflict as a defense of civilization, likening it to historical regimes that used "false narratives to justify crimes against civilians."
In his post, Al-Ansari questioned whether the release of 138 hostages was achieved through military operations or mediation efforts, which he said are being unjustly criticized and undermined.
Exanding operations in Gaza
On Friday, Israel's security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Friday, adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Hamas have made no progress.