Qatar hosted a summit of Arab and Muslim nations on Monday, as nearly 60 member states gathered in Doha to denounce Israel’s bombing of the Qatari capital last week. Leaders described the strike, which killed at least six people, as a grave violation of sovereignty and a dangerous escalation in the war in Gaza.
The emergency joint session of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was called after Israeli forces targeted senior Hamas leaders meeting in Doha to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The attack drew global condemnation and has been widely described by Arab and Muslim leaders as unprecedented.
“This summit sends a united message: the aggression has exceeded all limits,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said, warning that the incident could destabilise the entire region.
Qatar: ‘A Treacherous Attack’
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani opened the summit by condemning the strike on his country’s capital.
“My country’s capital was subjected to a treacherous attack targeting a residence housing the families of Hamas leaders and their negotiating delegation,” he said. Sheikh Tamim accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging peace talks, asking: “If you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all negotiators?”
He added that Israel was pursuing the “dangerous illusion” of turning the Arab region into its sphere of influence.
Turkey: Call for Economic Pressure
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel a “terrorist mindset that thrives on chaos and bloodshed,” accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging the region into further conflict.
“The Doha attack has taken Israel’s banditry to a new level,” he said, urging Arab and Muslim nations to impose economic pressure. “We cannot accept the displacement of the Palestinian people, their genocide, or partition.”
Egypt: Warning of Regional Instability
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi described the attack as a “grave violation of international law” and warned Israel’s actions risked destabilising the region.
“I say to the people of Israel that what is happening now is sabotaging the existing peace agreements, and the consequences will be dire,” he said.
Iran: Unity Against a ‘Fake Regime’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for stronger solidarity. “Any further crimes cannot be tolerated,” he said, suggesting Islamic countries could cut ties with Israel.
Other Voices
- Iraq proposed a joint Arab-Islamic committee to bring the case to the UN and other international bodies.
- Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the strike on Doha proved Israel’s threat was “without limits” and urged “clear and decisive” measures.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the international community to “hold Israel liable” and said Israel’s far-right government “cannot be a partner to peace.”
- Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said: “Condemnations will not stop the missiles. Severe, punitive actions must be put in place.”
- Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka stressed the issue was about “the dignity of our people and the sanctity of international law.”
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed solidarity with Qatar and support for a two-state solution.
Regional and Institutional Bodies
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, urged the United States to pressure Israel to end its strikes. The OIC’s Hissein Brahim Taha called the summit “an opportunity to take a unified and firm stance,” while Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned that silence in the face of Israel’s actions would be “a crime in itself.”
A Unified Message
While divisions often complicate Arab and Muslim summits, the meeting in Doha showed broad unity in condemning Israel’s attack on Qatar and demanding an end to the war in Gaza. Leaders agreed that words alone would not suffice, calling for coordinated diplomatic, political, and economic measures.
Whether the summit’s declarations translate into concrete action remains uncertain. But the gathering underlined a growing sense that Israel’s assault on Gaza and now on Qatari soil has crossed a threshold for Arab and Muslim states.
Source: Al Jazeera
