CBNNews.com - DOHA, Qatar - Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani joined the chorus of Arab voices against the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip.

"Our people in Gaza are subject these days to an unjust aggression that does not differentiate between children, women and old people, between civilians and fighters," the sheikh said on the Arabic al-Jazeera television network.

"A war launched with such tools at such targets cannot be anything other than a war crime," the Qatari leader said.

Qatar maintains close ties both with the United States, hosting the US military's Central Command, and with the Gaza-based Hamas terror group.

According to Sheikh Hamad, asking Hamas to halt its rocket attacks against Israelis and asking Israel to end the Gaza op is tantamount to "putting the henchman and the victim on equal footing."

"Moves by Arab public opinion and world peace forces have shown what the people expect from us," he said.

"We believe we can achieve something…and that we can take measures to influence the international arena and Israel," the sheikh said.

Source: Reuters news agency