Arab and Muslim leaders convened in Doha on Monday for an emergency joint summit of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where they called for a comprehensive review of diplomatic and economic ties with Israel in the wake of last week’s deadly strike on Hamas negotiators in the Qatari capital. The unprecedented attack, which killed six people, has not only deepened regional anger but also shaken confidence in US security guarantees across the Gulf.
In their joint communiqué, nearly 60 participating states urged coordinated measures, including legal action against Israel and efforts to suspend its UN membership. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging Gaza ceasefire negotiations, warning that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ambitions to dominate the Arab region pose a “dangerous illusion.” Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egypt’s President Abdelfattah al-Sisi, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, and leaders from Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, and Palestine were among the high-profile attendees, signaling a rare show of unity against Israel’s actions.
While some states that normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords — notably the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco — opted to send lower-level delegations, the summit nonetheless amplified calls for Arab-Islamic solidarity. Iran’s president openly pushed for cutting ties with Israel, framing the attack as a direct threat to all regional capitals, while Egypt warned it could jeopardize existing peace treaties. The meeting underscored growing rifts with Washington, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Qatar to reassure its leaders after pledging unwavering support for Israel earlier the same day — highlighting the geopolitical crosscurrents now redefining Gulf alignments.
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