NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday released a statement expressing deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East after Israel strikes in Qatar’s capital, Doha. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “We have seen reports about the Israeli strikes in Doha earlier today. We are deeply concerned by this development and its impact on the security situation in the region. We strongly urge restraint and diplomacy, so that peace and security in the region is not endangered.” Doha was rocked by a series of explosions on Tuesday, with witnesses reporting plumes of smoke over the Katara district. Qatari authorities condemned the strikes as a “cowardly assault” on residential buildings that housed Hamas leaders, warning of a dangerous escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a post on X that the operation was “wholly independent,” carried out by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security Agency. “Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” it said.A Hamas official told Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera that Israeli strikes killed six people including a Qatari security officer, reported AFP.The US Embassy in Doha issued a shelter-in-place order for its staff and advised American citizens to stay indoors amid reports of missile strikes. Qatar denounced the attack as a violation of its sovereignty. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari posted on X, “The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha. Qatar will not tolerate reckless Israeli behavior.”Also read | Doha explosions: Israel says dropped 10 bombs on Hamas headquarters in Qatar – top developments
