Blanar: Slovakia Condemns Israeli Attack on Hamas in Qatar

Bratislava, 10 September (TASR) - Slovakia condemns the attack by Israeli armed forces against the leadership of Palestinian radical movement Hamas in Doha, Qatar, considering it to be a violation of international law and of the customs normally observed during peace negotiations in third countries, stated Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) on Wednesday. "We call for the release of all hostages as soon as possible. This act that has taken place, we think, is more likely to endanger the lives of all the Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas," stated Blanar, stressing that Slovakia supports peace negotiations. However, in his opinion, there can't be any violations of international and humanitarian law. During its attacks in Doha, Israel primarily targeted chief negotiator of the militant Hamas movement Khalil al-Hayya. Hamas claimed that six people were killed in the Israeli attacks in Doha, but none of its negotiators. The attack killed the son of the chief Hamas negotiator, the head of his office and three bodyguards, as well as a member of the Qatari security forces. The Palestinian movement declared that "the enemy failed to assassinate the members of the negotiating delegation". am/df