Arab Islamic Summit in Doha: Over 50 Nations Unite After Israeli Air Strike

The Arab Islamic Summit began on Monday, September 15, in Doha, Qatar, with leaders from more than 50 Muslim countries attending. This is the first large gathering of Muslim nations since Israel’s recent air strike on Doha, which has sharply increased tensions in the region. Many countries were already angry over Israel’s actions in Gaza, but the attack on Qatar has brought even stronger unity.

The strike has also forced Gulf nations, many of which have close ties with the United States, to stand with Qatar. Relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which normalized ties in 2020, are now under fresh strain. The emergency summit includes members of both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Ahead of the summit, foreign ministers met on Sunday to discuss a draft resolution. Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit said the message was clear: “Qatar is not alone, Arab and Islamic countries stand with it.”

Netanyahu’s Warning
Facing growing criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will strike “wherever enemies are hiding.” He warned Qatar to either expel Hamas leaders or prosecute them, or Israel would act. Qatar, which has been mediating to end the nearly two-year Gaza war, accused Israel of blocking peace efforts.

UAE’s Anger
The UAE, once seen as a key partner of Israel in the Abraham Accord, condemned the strike. On Friday, it summoned the Israeli Deputy Ambassador and described Netanyahu’s comments as hostile. The UAE stressed that Qatar’s stability is essential for the entire Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia.

Tough Moment for Trump
US President Donald Trump criticized Israel’s action, saying it did not help the goals of either Israel or the US. Calling Qatar a “close ally,” he praised its role in pushing for peace but also said eliminating Hamas remains important. Trump assured Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani that such an incident would not happen again. Netanyahu, however, argued that removing Hamas leaders in Qatar was the key to freeing hostages and ending the war.