Doha: Qatar’s prime minister urged the international community on Sunday to reject double standards and hold Israel accountable following an unprecedented strike on Hamas members in Doha. The attack, condemned even by President Donald Trump, prompted an emergency summit, though Washington sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Israel in support.
According to France24.com, the deadly attack — carried out by one US ally on the territory of another — sparked a wave of criticism, including a rebuke from President Donald Trump, who nonetheless dispatched Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Israel in a show of support. Monday’s emergency gathering of Arab and Islamic leaders will serve as a pointed show of unity among Gulf countries and seek to pile more pressure on Israel, which is already facing mounting calls to bring an end to the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas arrived in Doha on Sunday. It remains to be seen whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, will attend the gathering, though he visited Qatar earlier this week in a show of neighborly solidarity.
According to Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, Monday’s meeting will consider “a draft resolution on the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar.” Elham Fakhro, a fellow of Harvard’s Middle East Initiative, noted that Gulf states are expected to “use the summit to call on Washington to rein in Israel.” She added that they would also seek stronger US security guarantees, on the grounds that Israel’s actions have highlighted the inadequacy of current assurances and undermined US credibility as a security partner.
Middle East lecturer Karim Bitar, of Paris’s Sciences Po University, described the gathering as a “litmus test” for Arab and Muslim leaders, emphasizing that many of their constituents are “sick and tired of the old-style communiques.” He noted that these countries are expected to send a significant signal not only to Israel but also to the United States, urging the international community to stop providing a “blank check” to Israel.
Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the region and plays a key mediation role in the Israel-Hamas war, alongside the United States and Egypt. Sheikh Mohammed had dinner with President Trump on Friday while visiting the United States.
Hamas politburo member Bassem Naim stated that the militant movement, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war, hopes the summit will produce “a decisive and unified Arab-Islamic position,” as well as “clear and specific measures” on Israel and the war.