Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a warning to Qatar following a recent bomb attack, drawing parallels between Israel’s struggle against Hamas and America’s fight against al-Qaida after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“Tomorrow is September 11th. We remember September 11th. On that day, Islamist terrorists committed the worst savagery on American soil since the founding of the United States,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.

“We also have a September 11th. We remember October 7th. On that day, Islamist terrorists committed the worst savagery against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”

Netanyahu defended Israel’s latest military action, which he said targeted Hamas operatives in Qatar.

“Well, yesterday, we acted along those lines. We went after the terrorist masterminds who committed the October 7th massacre. And we did so in Qatar which gives safe haven, it harbors terrorists, it finances Hamas, it gives its terrorist chieftains sumptuous villas, it gives them everything,” he said.

Comparing Israel’s operation to U.S. actions after 9/11, Netanyahu added: “We did exactly what America did when it went after the al-Qaida terrorists in Afghanistan and after they went and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Now, the various countries of the world condemn Israel. They should be ashamed of themselves… They should applaud Israel for standing up to the same principles and carrying them out.”

Warning to Qatar

The Prime Minister issued a direct warning to Doha.

He asked Qatar leaders to ‘force terrorists of the country ‘ or ensure justice is served or else Israel will do just that.

“And I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will.”

Release of Hostages

In a separate development, Netanyahu announced the release of Israeli hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was abducted in Iraq in March 2023.

“In staff work directed by Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, which continued for many months, and following many efforts, we succeeded in bringing about her release,” Netanyahu confirmed.

He added that he had spoken with Tsurkov’s family, describing it as an “emotional conversation.” Netanyahu pledged that Israel would not relent in efforts to secure the return of all captives. “We will continue to fight with vigor and determination until we bring back all of our hostages, the living and the deceased,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. PHOTO/ Prime Minister of Israel X.