ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Antigua and Barbuda has become the second Caribbean Community (Caricom) country to condemn Israel’s unprecedented attack on senior Hamas figures in Qatar on Tuesday.

“This extraterritorial use of force violates Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and contravenes the United Nations Charter,” the Gaston Browne administration said in a statement.

It said it condemns “in the strongest terms” the airstrike which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has confirmed was initiated and executed by Israel”.

“We express full solidarity with Qatar and echo the United Nations Secretary-General’s description of the strike as a ‘flagrant violation’ of Qatar’s sovereignty. We urge an immediate halt to any further escalation, strict compliance with international law, and a return to credible diplomacy for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages,” the Antigua and Barbuda Government said.

It warned that “such violations of international law must not continue with impunity”, adding that Antigua and Barbuda “supports urgent consideration of this breach by the United Nations Security Council”.

Earlier, Guyana joined the chorus of international condemnation of the attack saying the action “does not help the cause in ending the war in Gaza nor of achieving lasting peace in the Middle East”.

At least six people were killed in the area where the attack took place, described as a residential one in Doha where many people live which is also surrounded by many embassies and consulates.

The international community is calling on all parties to the war in the Middle East to return to the negotiating table, stating that force cannot bring peace and that dialogue and negotiation are the fundamental solution to this war.

“The Government of Guyana joins the international community in condemning the unilateral bombing by the Israel Defence Force in Doha, Qatar, approximately one mile from the Guyana Embassy. This violent act is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar,” Georgetown said in a statement.

“Guyana strongly believes that the unilateral military strike in Qatar does not help the cause in ending the war in Gaza nor of achieving lasting peace in the Middle East,” it said, noting that the State of Qatar has been a consistent ally in fighting terrorism and has been instrumental in working closely with the United States and Egypt to bring about a diplomatic solution to the war in Gaza.