Doha (Qatar): An emergency summit of Arab and Islamic leaders is being held today in Doha with leaders from over 50 countries expected to attend.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has condemned the attack, stating that Israel’s actions will not derail ongoing mediation efforts with Egypt and the United States aimed at ending the war in Gaza. He urged the international community to abandon its “double standards” and hold Israel accountable for its “crimes.”
At least six people were killed in the Israeli air strike on a residential area in Doha, which Israel claimed was aimed at Hamas leaders discussing the US-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan.
Qatar has played a key role as a mediator in negotiations involving Israel and Hamas, particularly around ceasefire and prisoner exchanges. The Gulf state also hosts the political bureau of the Palestinian organization.
According to AFP, today’s summit will serve as a show of Arab and Islamic unity, aimed at increasing pressure on Israel to end the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
During a preparatory meeting on Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed stated:
“It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed. What encourages Israel to continue... is silence and lack of accountability.”
Key leaders attending the summit include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Visit to Qatar: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has traveled to Doha to attend the summit. His visit follows a show of solidarity on September 11, during which he reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering support” for Qatar’s sovereignty and regional stability.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar actively participated in Sunday’s foreign ministers’ meeting to help draft a resolution addressing the Israeli airstrike on Qatar.
According to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, today's summit will review a draft resolution condemning Israel's aggression. The draft labels the attack as a destabilizing act and expresses unified opposition to any Israeli attempts to impose “new realities” in the region.
While the draft strongly condemns Israel, Reuters reports that it currently does not include any economic or diplomatic sanctions. Changes to the resolution may be made during today’s session.
This summit has brought together all 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), including those who normalized ties with Israel in 2020, such as the UAE. The attack has intensified pressure on Gulf states with existing diplomatic relations with Israel.
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told Asharq Al-Awsat:
“This gathering sends a clear message: Qatar is not alone. The Arab and Islamic nations stand united with it.”
The high-level meeting comes in the wake of an Israeli airstrike on the Qatari capital last week, which targeted senior Hamas officials involved in ceasefire negotiations.
