Qatar's Amir Extends Condolences to Jordan Following Deadly Karak Church Attack

Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a message of condolence to Jordan's King Abdullah II following a fatal shooting at a church in the southern Karak governorate. The Deputy Amir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, also conveyed his condolences to the Jordanian monarch on Saturday.

These messages come in the wake of a violent assault that occurred on Friday in the Jordanian village of Hmoud. Three unidentified gunmen opened fire during a funeral procession at a Greek Orthodox church. The death toll tragically rose to eight on Saturday after a critically injured victim succumbed to their wounds in the hospital, as reported by Jordan’s state-run Petra News Agency and the Jordanian Ministry of Health. Dozens of other individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

In a statement released on Friday, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemned the assault. The ministry articulated its "absolute rejection of attacks on places of worship and the terrorization of innocent people." The statement further reaffirmed Qatar’s "firm rejection of violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of their motives or causes." MOFA affirmed that Qatar stands in full solidarity with Jordan in all measures undertaken to protect the country's security and stability, extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a swift recovery to those injured.

The attack has been met with widespread condemnation from across the region. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a statement on Friday vehemently condemning the terrorist attack and emphasizing the critical need for regional cooperation to combat and eradicate terrorism. Several other Arab nations, including Egypt, Lebanon, and Bahrain, also released official statements of solidarity, rejecting the targeting of places of worship and endorsing Jordan’s security measures in response to the attack.