Pakistan, May 20 -- Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Tuesday criticized Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, calling them a serious blow to peace efforts. His remarks came shortly after the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, which had initially raised hopes for progress in mediation.

Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, Sheikh Mohammed said, "When Edan Alexander was released, we thought it could be a turning point to end this tragedy. Instead, it triggered even more violent attacks." He accused Israel of showing "irresponsible and aggressive behavior" that is actively damaging any chance of lasting peace in the region.

The statement follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu'...