Arab League–OIC Summit warns Israel against escalating regional tensions
Leaders from nearly 60 countries convened in Doha on Monday for an emergency Arab-Islamic summit, jointly hosted by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where they warned that Israel’s recent actions risk destabilizing the entire Middle East.
The summit was held in response to an Israeli strike targeting Hamas officials based in Qatar, as they reportedly discussed a Gaza cease-fire proposal. The final communiqué, released by Qatar’s official news agency (QNA), strongly condemned the attack and expressed full solidarity with Qatar, calling it a threat to regional peace.
The statement emphasized that Israeli aggression “undermines any chances of achieving peace in the region” and called for unified efforts to resist “Israel’s attempts to impose a new reality,” which it warned could pose a “direct threat to both regional and international security.”
Absent from the summit were the heads of state from the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco—countries that normalized ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords five years ago to the day. Instead, they sent senior representatives.
Leaders at the summit reaffirmed that lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved by sidelining the Palestinian cause or attacking mediators. They urged adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions as the basis for any political solution.
The final declaration also called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take responsibility for ending the Israeli occupation and to establish a clear, enforceable timetable for its end.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Qatar on Tuesday, following his recent pledge of “unwavering support” for Israel’s efforts to eliminate Hamas. The strike has strained relations between Washington and key Gulf allies, raising questions about the reliability of U.S. security commitments in a region that hosts vital American military assets, including a major base in Qatar.
According to the State Department, Rubio’s visit aims to “reaffirm America’s full support for Qatar’s security and sovereignty” following last week’s events.
