{"id":4544,"date":"2025-09-17T10:20:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/?p=4544"},"modified":"2025-09-17T10:20:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:20:47","slug":"arab-muslim-leaders-urge-review-of-israel-ties-after-qatar-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/?p=4544","title":{"rendered":"Arab, Muslim leaders urge review of Israel ties after Qatar attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arab and Muslim leaders called for a review of ties with Israel after emergency talks in Doha on Monday following last week\u2019s deadly strike<\/a> on Hamas members in the Qatari capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joint session<\/a>, which brought together nearly 60 countries, sought to take firm action after Israel\u2019s attack on Qatar-hosted Hamas officials as they discussed a Gaza ceasefire proposal. It was co-sponsored by Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A joint statement from the summit urged \u201call states to take all possible legal and effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against the Palestinian people\u201d, including \u201creviewing diplomatic and economic relations with it, and initiating legal proceedings against it\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qatar\u2019s fellow Gulf nations, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, were among those present that recognise Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leaders of the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, which signed the Abraham Accords recognising Israel five years ago to the day, did not attend Monday\u2019s talks, sending senior representatives instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement also urged member states to \u201ccoordinate efforts aimed at suspending Israel\u2019s membership in the United Nations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Qatar on Tuesday, after pledging \u201cunwavering support\u201d for Israel\u2019s goal of eradicating Hamas during a visit to the country earlier today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attack in Doha strained ties between Washington and key allies in the Gulf, raising concerns over US security guarantees in a region housing major US assets, including a major military base in Qatar. The State Department said Rubio would \u201creaffirm America\u2019s full support for Qatar\u2019s security and sovereignty\u201d after last week\u2019s strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qatar had called for a coordinated regional response after the Israeli attack, which stunned the usually peaceful, wealthy peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summit aimed to pile pressure on Israel, which is facing mounting calls to end the fighting and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The host country\u2019s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accused Israel of trying to scupper ceasefire talks by firing on Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamas says top officials survived last week\u2019s air strike in Doha, which killed six people and triggered a wave of criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhoever works diligently and systematically to assassinate the party with whom he is negotiating, intends to thwart the negotiations,\u201d the emir told the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qatar\u2019s emir said that Israel had sought to derail Gaza talks by striking Hamas negotiators in his country last week, and that its premier dreamt of an Arab world under Israeli influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu \u201cdreams of turning the Arab region into an Israeli sphere of influence, and this is a dangerous illusion\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emir said in a message later on X: \u201cThe emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha today is [a] clear message in the face of Israeli state terrorism against our region, and outcomes will effectively contribute to intensifying our collective efforts and coordinating the positions and measures of our countries, unifying our voice and stance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia\u2019s de facto ruler, was among those present at the summit, as were Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTomorrow, it could be the turn of any Arab or Islamic capital,\u201d said Pezeshkian, whose country fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, at one point attacking a US base in Qatar in retaliation for strikes on its nuclear facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe choice is clear. We must unite.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pezeshkian earlier urged Muslim countries to cut ties with Israel. \u201cIt is possible that Islamic countries cut their ties with this fake regime and maintain unity and cohesion as much as possible,\u201d Pezeshkian said before departing for Doha, adding that he hoped the summit would \u201creach a conclusion\u201d on measures against Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Abdelfattah al-Sisi of Egypt, the first Arab country to recognise Israel, warned its attack in Qatar \u201cplaces obstacles in the way of any opportunities for new peace agreements and even aborts the existing peace agreements with countries in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and its main backer Washington have been trying to expand the Abraham Accords, signed during US President Donald Trump\u2019s first term, notably courting Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of adopting a \u201cterrorist mentality\u201d, as countries took turns slamming it over Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rich Gulf countries also met on the sidelines of the summit, urging the US to use its \u201cleverage and influence\u201d to rein in Israel, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi told a press conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US President Donald Trump, who had dinner with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York on Friday, made careful remarks before today\u2019s Arab gathering as Washington\u2019s two powerful Middle Eastern allies face a worsening rift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQatar has been a very great ally. Israel and everyone else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful,\u201d Trump told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US president initially rebuked Israel over the attack, saying he was \u201cvery unhappy\u201d about it. However, yesterday, Rubio said<\/a> it was \u201cnot going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>PM Shehbaz suggests task force<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the summit today, PM Shehbaz Sharif suggested the formation of a task force to counter Israeli aggression and expansionism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the attack on Doha was carried out by an \u201caggressor who seriously violates the international law\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan condemned the attack, he said, adding that it clearly meant to undermine the peace efforts in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar and we express our solidarity with our brothers: the Qataris. The Israeli attack on Qatar is not separate from the other attacks, it is a hegemonic ambition on part of Israel to control the whole region and the role of mediators is always considered to be sacred and they are the hope of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said Qatar was trying to advance regional peace while the women and children of Gaza were suffering disaster. PM Shehbaz said the whole world was \u201cwatching a massacre\u201d in Gaza and called for it to be stopped now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier said Pakistan emphasised the importance of taking urgent steps to put an end to war crimes in Gaza and to \u201cestablish a task force to take effective steps to stop Israeli expansion plans\u201d. The prime minister called for Israel\u2019s membership in the United Nations to be suspended and said other effective steps needed to be taken against the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz said today\u2019s meeting confirmed the common ideas and acts of the participants to condemn the Israeli attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz met several leaders at the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir present as well, according to a statement issued by the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two leaders exchanged views on the situation emerging after Israel\u2019s aggression on Doha, the statement said . The prime minister strongly condemned Israel\u2019s action and termed it as a deliberate attempt by Israel to derail the Middle East peace efforts, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz said that the convening of the Arab-Islamic Summit had sent out an important message that \u201cMuslims around the world spoke with one voice against Israel\u2019s unlawful and reckless aggression\u201d, which threatened regional peace and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saudi crown prince said that he looked forward to PM Shehbaz\u2019s upcoming visit to Riyadh later this week, which would provide both sides with an important opportunity for a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral as well as regional and global issues, according to the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement further said he expressed his appreciation for the prime minister\u2019s leadership and for Pakistan\u2019s active diplomatic efforts, including at the UN Security Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to express solidarity with Qatar at a critical juncture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this visit to Doha, PM Shehbaz was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, according to PTV News<\/em>. He was received by Qatar\u2019s minister for culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz also undertook a one-day visit<\/a> to Doha on September 11, when he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to denounce the Israeli attack and show solidarity with the Gulf state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was already in Doha on Monday and actively participated in a meeting of foreign ministers<\/a> on Sunday to craft the draft resolution that was to be discussed during today\u2019s summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead of the summit, analysts said<\/a> the high-level moot was meant to send Israel a clear signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a Dawn<\/em> report<\/a>, diplomats said leaders at the summit may also weigh in on pushing Palestinian statehood<\/a> at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the UN Human Rights Council said today that it would host an urgent debate on Tuesday on Israel\u2019s airstrike in Qatar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The council said the debate would \u201cdiscuss the recent military aggression carried out by the State of Israel against the State of Qatar on 9 September 2025\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Dar seeks steps against Israel to safeguard global order<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Earlier today, FM Dar met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two leaders \u201cstrongly condemned Israel\u2019s unprovoked and unjustified strikes on Qatar and other nations in the region\u201d, the Foreign Office said on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey reaffirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, underlined the importance of the OIC and the Arab League in mobilising collective action of the Muslim Ummah, and welcomed the convening of the Arab-Islamic Summit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dar yesterday also met with OIC Secretary General<\/a> Hissein Brahim Taha, Egypt\u2019s FM<\/a> Dr Badr Abdelatty, Iran\u2019s FM Abbas Araghchi, Malaysia\u2019s FM Dato\u2019 Seri Mohamad Hasan, Bangladesh\u2019s<\/a> Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Uzbekistan\u2019s FM<\/a> Bakhtiyor Saidov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attending the ministerial meeting on Sunday, the foreign minister called for urgent steps<\/a> against Israel to \u201csafeguard the global order\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his speech, Dar highlighted that the frequency of meetings to discuss Israel\u2019s activities in the region underlines \u201chow Israel has become a persistent irritant and a danger to world peace and security\u201d, according to a FO statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPakistan condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the illegal and unprovoked Israeli aggression against the brotherly State of Qatar,\u201d Dar was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The foreign minister listed the following \u201curgent steps\u201d that need to be taken:<\/p>\n\n\n\n