Arab-Islamic Summit To Rally Support For Qatar After Israeli Attack

DOHA – An Arab-Islamic leaders summit in Doha on Sept 15 is expected to rally support for Qatar in the wake of last week's Israeli attack targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gulf state.

The attack, which Hamas says killed five of its members but not its leadership, has prompted US-allied Gulf Arab states to close ranks, adding to strains in ties between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, which normalised relations in 2020.

The emergency summit, bringing together members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, began with a meeting of foreign ministers on Sept 14 to discuss a draft resolution.

The gathering is a message that“Qatar is not alone... and that Arab and Islamic states stand by it”, Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

Hitting back at global condemnation of the Sept 9 attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has kept up the pressure on Qatar over the presence of Hamas leaders on its soil, warning Doha on Sept 10 to either expel Hamas officials or“bring them to justice because, if you don't, we will”.

Qatar, a key mediator in efforts aimed at ending the nearly two-year Gaza war, has accused Israel of sabotaging chances for peace and Mr Netanyahu of practising“state terrorism”.

A member of Qatar's internal security forces was among those killed.

US President Donald Trump has signalled unhappiness over the Israeli attack, saying it did not advance Israeli or US goals, calling Qatar a close ally working hard to broker peace.

He also said eliminating Hamas was“a worthy goal”. After the attack, he told Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani that“such a thing will not happen again on their soil”.

Netanyahu said on Sept 13 that getting rid of Hamas leaders living in Qatar would remove the main obstacle to releasing hostages still held by the group in Gaza and ending the war that began with the militant group's Oct 7, 2023 attacks.

The UAE, a US ally and the most prominent Arab state to normalise ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, on Sept 13 summoned the deputy Israeli ambassador over the attack and subsequent remarks by Netanyahu which it described as hostile.

The UAE has described Qatar's stability as an“inseparable part of the security and stability of the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council”, which includes Saudi Arabia.

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