DUBAI (Reuters)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said on Thursday said the crisis in the Middle East is a “collective genocide” and that his country has always warned of Israel’s “impunity”.

“It has become crystal clear that what is happening is genocide, in addition to turning the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human habitation, in preparation for displacement,” he said during the Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha.

The Qatari Emir also condemned Israeli air strikes and military operations “against the brotherly Lebanese Republic”.

Israel strongly objects to accusations it is committing genocide in Gaza, where it launched an assault a year ago after Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages. More than 41,500 Gazans have been killed during the Israeli assault, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory.

This week, Israel launched a ground incursion in Lebanon against the Iran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah, which has been firing into Israel in what it says is solidarity with the Palestinians.