Dhaka, Sept. 17 -- Bangladesh has expressed strong support for Qatar after Israeli strikes targeted the Gulf state amid its role as mediator in ceasefire efforts between Hamas and Israel.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, said the attack was "very unexpected" and undermined international mediation.

"The most unusual thing is that the United States itself was facilitating talks between Hamas and Israel. But if the negotiators are killed during negotiations, how can discussions continue? That is exactly what happened," he remarked.

Hossain noted that Bangladesh's participation in the emergency joint Arab-Islamic summit was aimed at showing solidarity with Qatar...