Qatar PM Condemns Israel, Lauds Arab and Islamic Unity Before Summit

Doha, Qatar – Arab and Islamic nations have strongly denounced Israel’s “barbaric” assault on Qatar and have pledged their support to Doha in its efforts to protect its sovereignty, stated Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

“We are thankful for the solidarity expressed by our brotherly Arab and Islamic nations, as well as friendly countries in the international community that have condemned this barbaric Israeli aggression,” Mohammed remarked on Sunday. “This demonstrates their full support for us and the legitimate legal measures we will adopt to uphold our nation’s sovereignty.”

The comments from the Qatari prime minister were made as foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries gathered in Doha prior to their leaders convening for an emergency summit on Monday in reaction to Israel’s assault last week.

The session of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) commenced not with a formal ceremony but with urgency, as delegates convened in a city suddenly thrust into a regional conflict.

Last Tuesday’s Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of five Hamas operatives and a Qatari security officer, and narrowly missed the negotiation team gathered in Doha as they deliberated a United States proposal aimed at concluding Israel’s genocidal two-year campaign in Gaza.

“It is high time for the international community to abandon double standards and to hold Israel accountable for the multitude of crimes it has committed,” Mohammed proclaimed at a meeting inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the city, asserting that the attack warrants “fierce” and “firm” responses.

Delegates from the Arab League and the OIC are working together on a joint resolution aimed at specifying concrete actions against Israel, with details of this resolution anticipated to be disclosed on Monday.

The Qatari prime minister criticized Israel’s persistent obstruction of Gaza ceasefire discussions, emphasizing: “Israel must be made aware that the ongoing genocidal war against the Palestinian populace, which seeks to forcibly displace them from their homeland, is doomed to failure, regardless of the false justifications presented.”

Both Arab League and OIC representatives advocated for Israel to be held accountable for its actions against Qatar.

“The persistent state terrorism against the people in the region calls for us to draft a resolution for the UN General Assembly to end these practices, as well as the abuses and crimes against the Palestinian people, and to advance toward a two-state solution,” stated OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha during Sunday’s session.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit emphasized the importance of delivering a strong message of Arab-Islamic unity with Qatar, asserting that Israel must answer for “documented war crimes,” which include “killing civilians, starving the populace, and displacing entire communities.”

Summit expected to deliver ‘strong statement to Netanyahu’

There are anticipations that the summit will produce a cohesive and assertive response to Israel’s attack.

Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka, the chief editor of the Gulf Times, indicated that the emergency summit is likely to lead to decisive actions against Israel instead of mere verbal condemnations.

“Historically, the narrative of the Arab summit has been restricted to statements of condemnation. However, I believe this time will be different,” al-Mudahka told Al Jazeera.

“I believe it will involve the adoption of specific measures that will send a very strong message to Netanyahu.”

The Arab and Muslim world is closely observing the outcome of the summit, which is viewed as a demonstration of regional solidarity.

Meanwhile, the US continues to be a strategic ally of Qatar, a relationship established in the 1970s, according to al-Mudahka, who added that the attack on Tuesday is unlikely to alter the dynamics between Washington and Doha.

Al-Mudahka also expressed hope that the summit will provide an opportunity to further advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, despite Israel’s actions against Doha hampering negotiations.

“I hope this summit serves as a pathway to bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza,” al-Mudahka concluded.