Leaders from Arab and Muslim nations are set to convene in Doha for an emergency summit on Monday, following Israel’s significant attack on Hamas in Qatar, which has sparked widespread outrage.
The summit, jointly organized by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and initiated by Qatar, aims to increase pressure on Israel as calls grow for an end to the conflict and humanitarian issues in Gaza.
Hamas reports that its senior leaders survived the recent airstrike in Doha, which resulted in six casualties and drew criticism, including from US President Donald Trump.
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A preliminary statement viewed by AFP cautioned that “Israel’s harsh aggression” jeopardizes efforts to normalize ties between Israel and Arab countries.
It further stated, “This threatens all progress made towards establishing normal relations with Israel, including existing and potential agreements.”
Israel, along with its primary ally the United States, has been working to expand the Abraham Accords, which initiated connections with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020.
The recent attack and Israel’s “genocide (and) ethnic cleansing in Gaza” threaten the prospects for peace and coexistence in the region, the draft statement noted.
“The time has come for the global community to abandon double standards and hold Israel accountable for its crimes,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani remarked during a preparatory meeting over the weekend.
Alongside Egypt and the US, Qatar has been at the forefront of mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza conflict.
‘Actions, not just words’
The nearly 60-nation assembly in Doha will also highlight “the principle of collective security… and the necessity of uniting to confront common challenges and threats,” according to the draft.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has departed for Qatar to attend the summit, state media reported.
Among those gathering on Monday are Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also be present.
An extraordinary meeting of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council is also scheduled for Monday in Doha, according to Saudi state media.
The United Nations Human Rights Council announced it would conduct an urgent debate on Tuesday regarding Israel’s airstrike on Hamas in Qatar.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Israel to showcase Washington’s steadfast support.
Aziz Algashian, a Saudi-based expert on Middle Eastern international relations, noted, “Many people are focusing on actions, not just words, from the Doha meeting.”
“We’ve exhausted all forms of rhetoric. Now it’s about taking actions—and we’ll see what those will be,” he added.
