Arab, Islamic leaders condemn Israeli strike
Summit in Doha urges legal action and unity after Qatar attack
Leaders from Arab and Islamic states convened in Doha for an emergency summit in response to a recent Israeli airstrike that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The summit, hosted by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, included heads of state and senior officials from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Sheikh Tamim condemned the airstrike as a "blatant, treacherous and cowardly act" that violated Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. He called for unity among Arab and Muslim nations to confront what he termed a dangerous precedent of targeting leaders on foreign soil, urging concrete measures to hold Israel accountable.
Prominent leaders, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, expressed outrage, with el-Sisi stating that the attack had crossed "all red lines." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan labeled the airstrike an escalation of aggression, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed solidarity with Qatar. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas demanded an immediate halt to Israeli hostilities and greater international protection for Palestinians.
Throughout the session, leaders advocated for diplomatic and legal actions against Israel, including reviewing or suspending bilateral agreements and increasing pressure at the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. They also addressed humanitarian concerns, warning that unchecked violence could further destabilize the region.
The summit highlighted widespread outrage over the airstrike, viewed as a direct challenge to regional sovereignty. In their final statement, participants condemned the Israeli actions and called for all states to take legal measures to prevent further aggression. They emphasized the need to review diplomatic and economic relations with Israel and initiate legal proceedings against it.
The statement described the airstrike as a "cowardly act of aggression" and a violation of Qatari sovereignty, carried out against a neutral venue for international mediation. The leaders reaffirmed their solidarity with Qatar and condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, which have resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe. They called for an immediate halt to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and demanded international accountability for Israel's actions.
