In the Context of Human Rights Actions Against the Israeli Aggression on Qatar..

Delegation of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions Meets with Aboul Gheit in Cairo

Maryam Al-Attiyah: It is essential for the Arab League to support accountability, investigation, and prosecution efforts against the occupying state

We have sent messages to official bodies, UN agencies, and international organizations urging urgent action regarding the aggression against Qatar

We call for including the Israeli aggression against Qatar on the agenda of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights

Cairo: September 2025

H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and member of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, emphasized the gravity of the violations resulting from the Israeli aggression, which targeted a populated area housing schools, and diplomatic missions.

She called on the General Secretariat of the Arab League to support the efforts of the NHRC and its regional and international engagements to expose the grave violations committed in the context of the aggression, and to strengthen the delivery of victims’ voices to all relevant international and regional human rights mechanisms.

In this context, she stressed the importance of the Arab League’s support for accountability, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators of these serious human rights violations and crimes, and the need to prevent them from escaping punishment.

This came during a meeting of the Arab Network’s delegation with H.E. Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, at his office at the League’s headquarters in Cairo.

The meeting was attended by H.E. Samar Al-Hajj Hassan, President of the Arab Network and Chairperson of the Jordan National Center for Human Rights; H.E. Ambassador Mahmoud Karem, President of the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt; H.E. Issam Arouri, Director of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights; and H.E. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Secretary-General of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions.

Al-Attiyah called for the Arab League’s General Secretariat to support the outcomes of the Arab Network’s emergency General Assembly, which was convened last Tuesday at the request of the NHRC at its headquarters in Doha under the theme: “The Israeli Aggression on Qatar: Towards an Arab Human Rights Movement to Confront Crimes and Violations.”

During the meeting, Al-Attiyah explained that immediately after the attacks targeting Qatar, the NHRC sent messages to trigger urgent international mobilization against the aggression. In this context, the Committee addressed UN Secretary-General H.E. António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights H.E. Volker Türk, President of the UN Human Rights Council H.E. Jürg Lauber, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its four regional networks, as well as a number of international and regional human rights organizations, most notably the International Labour Organization, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Penal Reform International, the International Federation of Journalists, and the United Nations Development Programme.

She stated: “We stressed that this aggression also constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, particularly rules related to the protection of civilians, and of international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees children’s right to safety and protection.”

Al-Attiyah noted that the Israeli attack on Qatar caused humanitarian tragedies, severe material damage, and deep psychological effects on civilians, especially children and women, turning residential areas into zones of fear and terror.

She added: “In our messages, we clarified that the bombing targeted a civilian area populated with residents, schools, nurseries, diplomatic residences, and several embassies, putting the lives of diplomats, children, and families at direct risk. The presence of a fuel station in the targeted area posed an imminent threat of a broader humanitarian catastrophe.”

She further pointed out: “Reports indicate a rise in psychological trauma among schoolchildren and women, which requires urgent international attention and immediate measures to protect civilians and ensure accountability.”

During her meeting with Aboul Gheit, Al-Attiyah called for the Israeli aggression on Qatar and its grave human rights violations to be included on the agenda of the Arab League’s Permanent Committee on Human Rights at its next session.

She stressed the importance of the Arab League’s role in supporting the recommendations of the Arab Network’s emergency meeting on September 16, 2025, regarding the Israeli attacks on Qatar.

She also underlined the Arab League’s crucial role in strengthening efforts to comprehensively reform the UN system to end double standards and impunity in the face of systematic, widespread violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces against civilians.

Her Excellency further explained that she had called for an emergency meeting of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the coming days, as a member of that body.

She reviewed with the Arab League Secretary-General the NHRC’s efforts in monitoring, documenting, and exposing the serious violations resulting from the aggression, and in addressing regional and international actors to uncover all violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against civilians.

Al-Attiyah praised the efforts of the Arab League General Secretariat and its supportive stance toward the State of Qatar and its people in the face of the Israeli attacks. She also commended the broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with the victims and their families.