DUBAI, Sep 15: Qatar hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic nations on Monday to present a united response to Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Doha.
However, the group has few ways to restrain Israel as its war in the Gaza Strip continues.
Israel launched its invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and since then, it has retaliated against the militant group and other members of Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance elsewhere, including in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Qatar.
This has led to wider anger among Mideast nations already enraged by the over 64,000 Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza.
The key question remains whether the summit will signal a shift toward more consequential measures against Israel, including diplomatic downgrades, targeted economic actions, and restrictions on airspace and access.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani opened the summit by accusing Israel of not caring about its hostages held in Gaza and instead working to “ensure Gaza is no longer livable.”
Israel has said the goals of its war include bringing all the hostages back and defeating Hamas.
A variety of regional leaders attended the summit, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Iran, which hit a base in Qatar in June, is attending the summit.
After the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran struck Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a major hub for American forces, angering Qatar.
Qatar has been key in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks, providing a channel for Israel to negotiate with the militant group that has controlled Gaza for years.
As the Israel-Hamas war continues, Qatar increasingly has been criticised by hard-liners within Netanyahu’s government.
US President Donald Trump offered renewed support for Qatar, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Israel to express America’s concern over the attack on Qatar and talk about Israel’s planned new offensive on Gaza City. (AP)
