Arab and Muslim Leaders Gather in Doha for Emergency Summit After Israeli Attack on Qatar
Doha, Qatar – Leaders and senior officials from across the Arab and Muslim world convened in Doha on Monday for an emergency summit of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as regional anger grows over Israel’s recent strike on Qatar.
The high-stakes meeting comes just days after Israeli air raids killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer in Doha. The attack narrowly missed a Hamas negotiation team that had been reviewing a US proposal aimed at ending Israel’s two-year war on Gaza, sparking outrage throughout the region.
Qatar’s Emir Condemns Israel in Opening Address
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani set the tone of the summit with a sharp rebuke of Israel, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of harboring dangerous ambitions in the region.
“Netanyahu dreams of the Arab world becoming an Israeli sphere of influence, and this is a dangerous illusion,” Sheikh Tamim declared. He also stressed that Israel could have prevented decades of bloodshed had it embraced the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi-backed plan endorsed by the Arab League that offered full recognition of Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from occupied territories seized since 1967.
Regional Solidarity With Qatar
On Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani condemned the attack, emphasizing that Doha had received overwhelming support from its Arab and Islamic allies.
“We appreciate the solidarity of brotherly Arab and Islamic nations, as well as friendly countries from the international community, that condemned this barbaric Israeli attack,” he said. Qatar, he added, would pursue “legitimate legal measures to preserve the sovereignty of our country.”
Calls for Firm Action
Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar urged the summit to deliver a “clear roadmap” in response to Israel’s actions, noting that the global Muslim community was closely watching the outcome.
“The Muslim world is waiting for decisive steps,” Dar told Al Jazeera, adding that discussions at the United Nations Security Council had failed to produce meaningful results. Pakistani Defence Minister Muhammad Asif echoed the sentiment, warning that firm measures were necessary to show that no country would remain unaffected by Israel’s war in Gaza.
Dar hinted at the possibility of a joint regional security initiative, saying, “It’s a sort of combined security force type of response. As a nuclear power, Pakistan will stand with the Ummah and fulfill its duty.”
Iran Calls for Severing Ties With Israel
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also weighed in, urging Muslim-majority countries to cut ties with Israel to send a united message.
“Islamic countries can sever relations with this fake regime and maintain unity and cohesion,” Pezeshkian said before departing for Doha, expressing hope that the summit would result in concrete action.
A Turning Point?
While Arab and Islamic summits have often stopped short of direct measures against Israel, observers say this emergency gathering could mark a turning point. Analysts suggest that, for the first time, member states may adopt tangible steps in response to Israeli aggression, though divisions within the bloc could still temper outcomes.
The summit, which concludes Monday evening, is being closely watched worldwide for signs of whether the Arab and Muslim world will finally take coordinated action against Israel.