In a recent move to rally a unified response to Israel’s assault on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar hosted a meeting of the heads of Arab and Islamic nations. However, as the war in Gaza progresses unabated, the summit’s ability to limit Israel’s actions is questionable. The offensive in Gaza was Israel’s response to an attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023. Following this, Israel retorted against Hamas and other groups in the so-called Iranian ‘Axis of Resistance,’ with actions seen in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Qatar.
Such aggression has ignited indignation across the Middle East, an area already incensed by the death of more than 64,000 Palestinians in the Gaza conflict. A rising concern is whether the U.S.’s promise to safeguard Gulf Arab nations is robust enough. Nevertheless, the expectations from the summit remain hazy, as persistent disagreements among the nations could hinder collective action.
Furthermore, actions, such as sanctions on Israel, from nations traditionally viewed as adversaries, such as Iran, may have minimal impact. Simultaneously, countries in attendance that have official diplomatic relations with Israel might be hesitant to dissolve these relations. As noted by the New York-based Soufan Center, the rapid organization of a grand summit amidst prevalent disagreements demonstrates an urgent sense of communal concern.
A critical aspect to consider is whether the summit could symbolize a shift towards rigorous actions against Israel, possibly including diplomatic downgrades, deliberate fiscal measures, or restrictions on airspace and access rights. The summit was initiated by Qatar’s ruling emir, who criticized Israel for its disregard for hostages held in Gaza and focusing on devastating living conditions there. Israel’s primary goals of the war include the liberation of their hostages and the defeat of Hamas.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the ruler of Qatar, posed an important question, ‘If Israel’s goal is to exterminate the Hamas leadership, why enter negotiations?’. He further questioned Israel’s insistence on freeing the captives while they continue with the assassinations of the negotiators. The lengthy discourse, marked by intense criticisms of Israel, was uncommon for the ruler of Qatar, who has played a central role in attempting to negotiate a ceasefire.
He significantly condemned Israel for what he interpreted as a ‘genocide’ in Gaza, while Israel vehemently rejects such allegations. Israel argues that the length of the conflict is due to Hamas’s denial to surrender and release hostages. The summit was attended by an array of leaders, incorporating Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Also present at the summit was Iran, despite attacking a base in Qatar in June. This was in retaliation to a strike on Iranian nuclear sites by the U.S. earlier in the year, leading to an attack on Al Udeid Air Base, a significant U.S. military base, angering Qatar. Regardless, Iran sent President Masoud Pezeshkian to the summit.
Before the departure from Tehran, President Pezeshkian pointed out the array of Islamic countries that Israel had attacked post October 7 and lamented the consistent support offered by the United States and European countries to such actions. The geopolitically pivotal Qatar, rich in natural resources and memorable for hosting the 2022 World Cup, has acted as a mediator during conflicts.
For years, at the behest of the U.S., it has provided a conduit for Israel to negotiate with the Hamas, a group long in control of Gaza. Nevertheless, Qatar has faced increasingly severe criticism within Netanyahu’s administration as the conflict with Hamas continues. Netanyahu has declared his intent to target those responsible for the Hamas-led attack on Israel back in 2023 and hinted at possible future actions against Qatar if Hamas leaders are present.
In the midst of emerging tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump reconfirmed his support, labeling Qatar as a strong ally and understanding their precarious situation being at the center of all conflicts. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Israel, conversed with Netanyahu and other officials expressing concerns about the attack on Qatar and seeking discussions on Israel’s impending major action on Gaza City.
Rubio chose not to comment on the attack on Qatar but emphasized America’s commitment to collaborating with regional partners towards halting Hamas and securing a ceasefire. He also subtly nudged Qatar into playing a constructive role in these efforts. Meanwhile, Netanyahu restated that the decision to attack Qatar was an independent one by Israel.
The growing pressure on Netanyahu from the Israeli public to put an end to the conflict and to bring home the remaining 48 hostages, of whom 20 are believed to be alive, is another element impacting the situation. The conflict was initiated when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel, causing roughly 1,200 deaths, mainly among civilians, and took 251 hostages.
This led to a series of Israeli offensives in Gaza, leading to the deaths of approximately 64,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, although no distinction between civilians and combatants was provided. About half of the victims were reported to be women and children. These numbers come from the Hamas-run government’s health ministry, staffed by medical professionals, and are considered reliable by the U.N. and independent experts.
Israel disputes such figures but hasn’t released any of its own. As intricate regional dynamics and intense conflicts persist, the broad impact and potential results of this summit are beheld closely by the international community. Walking a precarious tightrope of diplomatic negotiations, each nation at the summit seeks ways to address this crisis and mitigate further escalation and loss.
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