Several countries in Central Asia sharply criticized Israel’s airstrike on a Hamas meeting in Qatar on Tuesday, saying it was a violation of sovereignty and international law. 

“Whatever the objective, such actions must not be allowed,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan said. “This violates the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and contradicts the principles of international law.”

Uzbekistan´s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a similar statement about the attack, which escalated tensions in the Middle East and threatened to disrupt already fragile talks about a cease-fire in Gaza. 

The ministry noted that the attack happened in a residential area of the Qatari capital of Doha and described it as “an encroachment upon the inviolability of borders and security” of the Gulf state.

“Such actions are unacceptable and represent a serious disregard for the UN Charter, fundamental norms and principles of international law,” the ministry statement said. “Uzbekistan has consistently opposed any form of use of force in international relations that exacerbates the already complex situation in the Middle East.”

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan also condemned the Israeli attacks, according to presidential spokesman Askat Alagozov.

Hamas negotiators have a base in Qatar, which has served as a mediator in efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza. Israel said the strike in Doha was retaliation for a shooting attack that killed five people in Jerusalem on Monday. 

Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries have been developing more investment projects with Qatar as they diversify their international trading partners.