ISLAMABAD: Arab and Muslim leaders at an emergency summit in Doha on Monday issued a joint statement demanding all nations take legal, diplomatic, and economic measures to hold Israel accountable for its recent deadly airstrike on Hamas officials in Qatar.
The statement urged countries to review their ties with Israel, suspend its United Nations (U.N.) membership, and initiate legal proceedings to prevent further Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.
Pakistan PM urges Arab-Islamic task force
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, attending the summit, condemned Israel’s strike as a dangerous escalation and called for regional unity. “Let history record this great moment, when we, the leaders of the Arab-Islamic world, have chosen unity, dignity, and courage over silence and inaction,” he said.
Sharif emphasized stopping Israel’s expansionist policies and proposed forming an Arab-Islamic task force to implement effective countermeasures. He also highlighted the critical role of peace mediators in wartime, stressing that the attack on Qatar undermines ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
Turkiye calls for sanctions, military coordination
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan labeled Israel’s war a global threat and urged a firm response including sanctions and military cooperation. “Israel's war has become a threat, not only to Gaza but the whole world,” he warned.
Erdoğan condemned Israeli policies of occupation and genocide and revealed Türkiye’s halt of commercial ties with Israel, sacrificing $9.5 billion annually. He pledged to share Türkiye’s military capabilities with Muslim nations, signaling readiness for collective defense.
Iran denounces Israeli violations
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a forceful rebuke, accusing Israel of “crossing all lines” by violating Muslim countries’ sovereignty and dignity, including the Qatar strike.
“Any further crimes cannot be tolerated,” Pezeshkian warned, calling for Israeli leaders to face justice for war crimes. He invoked Muslim unity, citing Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) call for Muslims to stand “as one, one body, one hand.”
Maldives voices regional solidarity
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu condemned the airstrike as an attack on the entire Muslim world. “An attack on Qatar is an attack on us all,” he declared.
Muizzu criticized international double standards protecting Israel and called for its leaders to face justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Palestinian president urges firm global response
Palestinian President Mahmoud Rida Abbas decried Israel’s far-right government as incapable of peace and security, calling for strong Arab-Muslim unity and urgent intervention by the U.S. and UN Security Council.
He praised the Arab-Muslim states’ support for Palestine and mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar to end the genocide, deliver humanitarian aid, and withdraw occupation forces.
Qatar dubs Israel ‘treacherous, cowardly’
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sharply criticized Israel’s actions, accusing it of deliberately undermining ceasefire negotiations. “There is no room to deal with such a party that’s cowardly and treacherous,” he said.
The Emir’s remarks highlight Qatar’s frustration as a key mediator targeted in the attack and underscore the region’s fragile peace efforts.
U.S. assures support for Qatar amid tensions
While the summit condemned Israel’s strike, the U.S. pledged support for Qatar’s sovereignty. Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned to visit Doha, reaffirming Washington’s commitment despite strained ties following the attack.
The incident raises concerns over U.S. security guarantees in the Gulf, where major American military assets are located.
The emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha marked a pivotal moment of regional unity demanding legal, diplomatic, and economic actions against Israel following the airstrike on Qatar. Strong speeches from leaders of Pakistan, Türkiye, Iran, Maldives, Palestine, and Qatar reflected shared outrage and a call for justice, even as complex regional dynamics pose challenges to unified action.
