GCC prepares to defend; Arab League condemns Israel’s aggression against Qatar at Doha summit | Middle East News

An emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic country leaders held in Doha has strongly condemned Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, calling it a “cowardly” and “treacherous” act. However, the summit did not result in any concrete actions to address the situation. The GCC’s commitment to activate a joint defense mechanism was the most tangible outcome of the meeting, initiated by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The GCC, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has established a defense pact to address the security concerns of its member states. Sheikh Tamim emphasized the need for “concrete steps” to address the aggressive behavior of the Israeli government, which he claims is not genuinely interested in peace. The attack on mediators indicates Israel’s aim to hinder negotiations and prolong the conflict in Gaza, which has already claimed over 64,800 Palestinian lives. The emergency summit was prompted by outrage following Israeli strikes on September 9, which killed six people. GCC consultations are underway to build up “Gulf deterrent capabilities,” according to Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While no political or economic measures were announced, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi urged the US to use its influence and pressure Israel to halt its aggression. Despite expectations for more robust actions, the summit’s final statement mainly consisted of condemnations and pledges of solidarity. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has stated its intention to hold Israel accountable in the international community, using international law and organizations to do so. Various individual states have called for stronger, more actionable responses, including economic pressure, legal action, and sanctions against Israel. The Doha summit marks a change in tone among Arab-Islamic states, signaling a desire for a new security architecture in the region, although concrete actions remain to be seen. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel to meet with Netanyahu, who threatened to target Hamas leaders unless Qatar expels them. However, Trump reassured that Israel would not strike Qatar again.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/gcc-vows-joint-defence-but-arab-islamic-summit-short-on-concrete-action?traffic_source=rss