The emergency Arab-Islamic Summit convenes today, Monday, in the Qatari capital, Doha, to address the repercussions of the Israeli attack that targeted the city last week.
According to the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the summit will discuss a joint Arab-Islamic draft statement regarding the assault, which was described as an unprecedented shock regionally and internationally. The attack targeted residential compounds housing leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Doha, despite Qatar’s role as a mediator for the past two years to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Foreign Ministry stressed that holding the summit at this moment reflects broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with Qatar in the face of what it called a "cowardly Israeli aggression," and a unified rejection of state terrorism practiced by Israel.
On Sunday, foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries met in Doha in preparation for the summit, where they discussed the draft statement to be presented to participating leaders.
During the preparatory meeting, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani emphasized the need not to remain silent in the face of Israeli aggression, noting that the international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable only emboldens it to persist. He called for tangible measures to curb its actions.
For his part, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit affirmed that the League’s message is one of solidarity with Qatar against the aggression of the occupying power, praising Doha’s important role, alongside Cairo, in mediation efforts to halt Palestinian bloodshed.
Other speakers also strongly condemned the Israeli attack and urged participating leaders to adopt firm measures against Israel.
Beyond addressing the recent assault, the summit is expected to strengthen Arab-Islamic solidarity and expand joint efforts to confront current challenges.
Meanwhile, dozens of journalists and media representatives from regional and international outlets, along with local correspondents, have been arriving in Doha since Sunday to cover the summit. The number of media personnel is expected to exceed 200.
The Israeli strike on residential facilities housing Hamas leaders in Doha last Tuesday drew widespread Arab and international condemnation, being seen as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, a breach of international law, and an attack on a state actively engaged in mediation efforts between the Palestinian resistance and Israel.
