Arab-Islamic Leaders Weigh Firm Action On Israel After Qatar Attack

DOHA has become the focal point of the Arab and Muslim world as leaders, ministers, and dignitaries converge for an emergency summit of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The high-stakes gathering, which opened on Monday, follows last week’s Israeli strike in the Qatari capital that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer—an attack described by regional leaders as a direct assault on Qatar’s sovereignty.

The summit carries unusual weight. For years, Arab and Islamic leaders have issued rhetorical condemnations of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied territories, but observers say this meeting could mark a turning point, producing concrete, collective measures for the first time.

Regional Outrage, Local Resolve

Tensions flared after Israel’s strike narrowly missed a Hamas negotiation team in Doha, which had been deliberating on a U.S.-backed proposal to end Israel’s two-year war on Gaza. Fury has swept across the region, with street protests erupting in multiple capitals and leaders under pressure to act.

Opening the summit, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani condemned the attack in stark terms. “We appreciate the solidarity of brotherly Arab and Islamic countries … This barbaric Israeli attack will not go unanswered,” he said, vowing to pursue “legitimate legal measures” to defend Qatar’s sovereignty.

His remarks signaled a rare moment of consensus, with Arab and Islamic states closing ranks around Doha. Diplomats say that Qatar’s standing as a regional mediator in the Gaza conflict has lent its case added urgency.

Calls for Unity—and Action

Ahead of Monday’s main session, foreign ministers met behind closed doors on Sunday to hammer out a draft resolution proposing “concrete measures” against Israel. While details have not been made public, delegates hinted at a spectrum of options ranging from coordinated diplomatic boycotts to new security arrangements.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar urged the summit to produce a “clear roadmap” that would reassure Muslim populations worldwide that their leaders were acting decisively. “The Muslim world is watching. They are waiting to see whether we can turn outrage into action,” he told Al Jazeera.

His colleague, Defence Minister Muhammad Asif, was even more blunt. “Firm action is required in response to Israel. No country should think it will remain untouched by the Gaza war,” he warned, raising the prospect of joint security measures.

Asked about specifics, Dar said discussions had already touched on the idea of a “combined security force,” and pointedly noted Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, suggesting that a show of collective strength could deter future attacks.

Iranian Push for Break with Israel

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, en route to Doha, urged Muslim nations to escalate further by cutting ties with Israel altogether. “Islamic countries can sever ties with this fake regime and maintain unity and cohesion,” he declared, pressing for the summit to adopt a hardline stance.

Tehran’s call is likely to sharpen divisions. Some Arab states that normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords—such as the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco—are reluctant to unravel those ties, preferring to emphasize diplomatic channels. Yet the attack on Doha has placed them in a difficult position, caught between domestic outrage and geopolitical pragmatism.

What’s at Stake

For decades, Arab and OIC summits have issued statements of solidarity without moving the needle on Israel-Palestine. But the Doha meeting comes at a time when Israel faces growing international criticism over its prolonged war in Gaza, and Qatar’s direct victimhood has galvanized calls for decisive steps.

Analysts caution that expectations remain high but outcomes uncertain. “This is a summit with unusual potential,” said one Gulf-based political analyst. “If they do move toward sanctions, boycotts, or even a regional security mechanism, it would signal the first real shift from words to action. But the test is whether rival interests among Arab states can be overcome.”

A Defining Moment

As the summit concludes Monday evening, observers believe the world will be watching closely for signals of unity—or cracks. For Qatar, the stakes are existential: a demonstration that its sovereignty cannot be violated with impunity. For the broader Arab and Islamic world, it is a moment to show whether they can marshal their collective weight into meaningful action.

If they succeed, Doha 2025 may be remembered as the meeting where outrage finally translated into policy. If not, it risks being another missed opportunity in a long history of unfulfilled promises.