Turkey, Qatar slam ‘double standards’

The foreign ministers of Turkey and Qatar yesterday accused the international community of "double standards" in its reaction to escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Qatar's top diplomat Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the two governments -- both Western allies -- "reaffirm our complete rejection of responding to the crisis with double standards when it comes to human life".

"It is not permissible to condemn the killing of civilians in one context and justify it in another." Al-Thani said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said: "The failure of some American and north European countries to condemn and prevent the destruction ... constitutes a very serious double standard and plays a destabilising role."