Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
At an emergency Arab-Islamic summit held in Doha on Monday, leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world issued a powerful joint statement condemning Israel’s recent airstrike on Qatari soil and calling for a reassessment of diplomatic and economic relations with Tel Aviv.
The extraordinary summit was convened in direct response to the Israeli airstrike that targeted members of Hamas in a residential area in Doha, an area known to host delegations involved in ongoing ceasefire negotiations related to the war in Gaza. The incident, which reportedly left several people dead, including a Qatari national and injured multiple civilians, was widely condemned as a breach of international law and Qatari sovereignty.
Collective Outrage and a Call for Action
The summit’s final communiqué described the strike as an “unlawful and cowardly act” and declared full solidarity with Qatar. Leaders affirmed that the attack was not only an assault on a sovereign state but also a direct threat to the broader international diplomatic process.
In a bold and unified move, the Arab and Islamic states called on all member nations to:
- Review or downgrade their diplomatic and economic ties with Israel
- Suspend arms sales, transfers, and military cooperation with Israel
- Support legal measures against Israel at international forums
- Work toward suspending Israel’s membership in the United Nations
The communiqué stressed that Israel bears full responsibility for its actions and warned that such aggression undermines any prospects for regional peace, jeopardizes existing agreements, and destabilizes neutral mediation efforts.
Undermining Mediation and Violating Neutral Ground
One of the central themes of the summit was the idea that the attack on Qatari territory, a country actively mediating talks between Israel and Hamas strikes at the heart of diplomatic norms. The airstrike was widely interpreted as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian aid access into Gaza.
The statement underscored that violating a neutral mediation zone not only disrupts the peace process but also sets a dangerous precedent for targeting diplomatic efforts worldwide.
Qatar’s Firm Response and Regional Unity
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, addressed the summit with strong words, accusing Israel of intentionally derailing negotiations. “Those who systematically target their negotiation counterparts are not seeking peace,” he said, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vision of turning the Arab world into an Israeli sphere of influence “a dangerous illusion.”
The leaders emphasized that Israel’s ongoing actions, including its military campaign in Gaza, settlement expansion, and alleged war crimes are incompatible with the principles of peace, coexistence, and international law.
The statement also warned that Israel’s continued aggression could unravel progress made through previous normalization agreements, including the Abraham Accords, and derail future attempts at rapprochement.
Diplomatic Pressure on the United States
During the closing press conference, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi urged the United States to use its influence over Israel to rein in its aggressive behavior. “The U.S. has leverage, and it is time to use it,” he stated. This echoed the broader sentiment among summit participants, many of whom believe Washington holds the key to restraining Israel’s actions and preventing further escalation.
Implementation Still Vague
Despite the strong language, Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Hossam Zaki clarified that the recommendation to review ties with Israel is non-binding. “Every state will decide based on its national interest and diplomatic considerations,” he said, signaling that while unity exists in condemnation, actual policy shifts may vary widely.
Several countries including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco have formalized ties with Israel in recent years under U.S.-brokered deals. Meanwhile, ongoing normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia have been frozen since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7.
A Turning Point?
The Doha summit may mark a significant diplomatic turning point in the region’s posture toward Israel. The rare collective call to reassess relations and apply political and legal pressure suggests a growing frustration with Israel’s behavior and a shift toward a more confrontational stance, especially in light of attacks that encroach on the sovereignty of Arab states and sabotage peace mediation efforts.
Whether these words translate into concrete diplomatic or economic action remains to be seen, but the message is clear: the Arab and Islamic world is drawing a red line, and Israel’s latest actions may have pushed it too far.
