Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan slam 'horrific crimes' following Israel's Nablus massacre

Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israel's deadliest raid in the occupied Palestinian territories for years, when 11 Palestinians, including a teenager and an elderly man, were killed by Israeli forces in Nablus on Wednesday. 

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement condemning the Israeli massacre, and warned of an "explosive situation in the Palestinian territories as a result of the Israeli escalation".

Doha urged the international community to "hold Israel accountable for its horrific crimes in the Palestinian territories". 

Statement | #Qatar strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces storming the city of #Nablus #MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/tMnGFBnfeg

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) February 22, 2023

Egypt "expressed its deep concern regarding the dangerous and continued escalation witnessed by the occupied Palestinian lands recently", according to the foreign ministry.

It warned that the massacre could "complicate" the situation in the region and undermines efforts to achieve peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. 

Jordan also slammed the massacre, saying that it has "consistently condemned Israeli incursions into occupied Palestinian cities, including today’s raid in Nablus."

Saudi Arabia called it "a serious violation of international law" and urged the international community to do more to stop the violence. 

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Saudis for their Founding Day on 22 February, sparking concerns that the two countries could develop an informal relationship. 

Eleven Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed by Israeli forces, and hundreds of others were wounded bygunfire and tear gas in what was the deadliest Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank in nearly 20 years.

Israel has launched near-daily raids in the occupied West Bank since March 2022, killing at least 61 Palestinians since the beginning of 2023.

Netanyahu's far-right Israeli government, which came to power in November 2022 has intensified persecution of Palestinians while vowing to expand settlements in the West Bank. It includes extreme-right ministers who have made incenidiary racist statements against Palestinians before.