Doha Hosts Arab-Islamic Summit: A Preparatory Meeting to Condemn Israeli Aggression Against Qatar

The Qatari capital, Doha, is preparing to host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit. A preparatory meeting for Arab and Islamic foreign ministers will be held on Monday, following the Israeli attack on the Qatari capital. The meeting aims to condemn the attack and affirm solidarity with Qatar.

The official spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majid bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, stated that the summit reflects "broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with the State of Qatar in the face of the cowardly Israeli aggression that targeted residential buildings for a number of Hamas leaders." He emphasized that the participating countries "categorically reject the state terrorism practiced by Israel." Al-Ansari added that the summit will discuss a draft statement on the Israeli attack, which will be presented by the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers.

The Israeli attack, which took place on Tuesday and targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, sparked widespread international reactions. The strike resulted in the death of five Hamas members and one member of the Qatari security forces. The attack was widely condemned internationally, especially by Gulf countries, which are allies of the United States, a main supporter of Israel.

The summit is being held in a sensitive context, as Qatar plays a key mediation role in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, alongside the United States and Egypt. According to Andreas Krieg of King's College London, the Israeli raids are "seen across the Gulf as an unprecedented violation of sovereignty and an attack on diplomacy itself." Krieg added that by hosting this summit, Doha signals that "such aggression cannot be normalized," and the goal is to "draw clear red lines and end the impression that Israel can act with impunity." He expects the summit to adopt a "firmer stance towards Palestine and a tougher one towards Israel's practices."

Iran, Iraq, and Turkey have confirmed their leaders' participation in the summit. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will all be in attendance.