In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Qatar has condemned Israel’s “barbaric” attack on its territory, with Arab and Islamic nations pledging full support to safeguard Doha’s sovereignty.
The attack, which targeted Hamas leaders meeting in Qatar to discuss a U.S.-mediated ceasefire in Gaza, has drawn sharp criticism from across the Middle East and the international community.
Speaking on Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani thanked countries that have condemned the strike and reaffirmed that Qatar would take all legitimate measures to protect its sovereignty.
We appreciate the solidarity of brotherly Arab and Islamic countries and friendly countries from the international community that condemned this barbaric Israeli attack,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Urgent Diplomatic Response
The remarks came as foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic nations convened in Doha ahead of an emergency summit on Monday, called specifically in response to Israel’s assault last week.
The meeting, hosted by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was convened with urgency rather than ceremony, reflecting the seriousness of the threat.
The Israeli strikes, carried out on September 9, killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The attack narrowly missed the negotiation team that was evaluating a U.S. ceasefire proposal aimed at ending Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has entered its second year.
It’s time for the international community to abandon dual standards and to hold Israel accountable for all the crimes it has committed,” Sheikh Mohammed said. He emphasized that Israel’s war of extermination in Gaza will not succeed, and any justification offered by Israel could not legitimize the continued violence.
Qatar as a Mediator Under Attack
Qatar has long served as a neutral mediator in the Israel-Hamas conflict, hosting political leaders from Gaza with tacit approval from the United States and other global powers. The attack on Qatari soil threatens to derail ongoing ceasefire efforts.
Israel must know that the continuous genocidal war against the Palestinian people, aiming at forcibly transferring them outside their homeland, cannot succeed, no matter what false justification is provided,” the Qatari prime minister added.
The strike not only violated Qatar’s sovereignty but also risks setting back broader peace initiatives in Gaza. Last month, Hamas had tentatively accepted a ceasefire proposal, which Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected, signaling his willingness to prolong the conflict at the cost of further Palestinian lives.
Regional and International Repercussions
The attack has sent shockwaves through the Gulf and the wider Arab world. Arab League and OIC members are collaborating on a joint resolution specifying measures against Israel, to be revealed during the emergency summit.
Saudi Arabia, which had already walked back from normalisation talks with Israel following the October 2023 Hamas attack, now faces even greater obstacles in considering diplomatic recognition of Israel.
The strike also exposes the failure of U.S. diplomacy under Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a “man of peace” in other regional conflicts. While Trump criticized the attack on Qatar, broader enforcement measures to hold Israel accountable have yet to materialize.
Implications for India
The escalation in the Gulf should also concern India, home to millions of expatriate workers in the region.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violation of Qatar’s sovereignty without explicitly naming Israel, India’s strategic and economic interests in West Asia could be affected if the conflict spreads further. Observers argue that India should adopt a more forthright stance in opposing regional military escalations and work closely with international partners to restore stability.
A Reckless Escalation
Even by Israel’s own record of regional strikes, the September 9 assault on Doha represents a dangerous escalation. By targeting Hamas leaders in a mediator country, Israel has signaled its disregard for diplomatic protocols and increased the risk of a wider Gulf conflict.
Analysts warn that such unilateral aggression undermines both ceasefire efforts in Gaza and the fragile Arab-Israel normalisation process.
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