Qatar holds Israel 'alone responsible' for escalation of violence with Palestine

Israel alone was responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence with the Palestinian people, Qatar’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Saturday. It said Qatar calls on both sides to exercise utmost restraint and calls on the international community to prevent Israel from using these events as an excuse to launch a disproportionate war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. At least 22 people have died and over 200 have been left wounded after Hamas launched its all-out offensive against Israel on Saturday. According to reports by the Times of Israel, two dozen are seriously or critically wounded. Apart from this, the head of a regional council for Israeli border areas northeast of the Gaza Strip has also been killed in a firefight between the Israeli Army and Hamas.