Doha Attack: Arab, Islamic Leaders to Discuss Response as US Rubio Lands in Israel
Arab and Islamic heads of state will convene for an Emergency Summit in Qatar on Monday, following the Israeli attack on Hamas leadership in Doha.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has arrived in Israel to discuss the situation in Gaza and Israeli plans after the attack in Doha, which has sparked regional tensions and raised concerns over ceasefire negotiations.
Arab-Islamic Summit
After the Israeli attack in Doha on Tuesday, Qatar called for an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Sunday and Monday to discuss a unified regional response for the Israeli blatant attack on its sovereignty.
On Saturday, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari, confirmed the summit, reported Qatar News Agency (QNA).
Al Ansari said that a preparatory meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers will take place on Sunday to submit a draft statement on the Israeli attack on Qatar to be discussed in the summit.
He highlighted the significance of the summit, as it demonstrates the broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with Qatar in confronting the Israeli assault that targeted the residential headquarters of several Hamas leaders, and these countries’ categorical rejection of the state terrorism practiced by Israel.
Israeli Attack in Doha
The Israeli military launched airstrikes on a residential compound housing a number of Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday, as they gathered to discuss a US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. The attack killed five group officials, including Khalil Al-Hayya’s son and the director of his office, in addition to a member of the Qatari security forces.
The attack has sparked regional and international condemnation as a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and a threat to peace negotiations as Doha is a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, alongside Egypt and the US.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council unanimously condemned the attack on Qatar, without directly naming Israel. “Council members underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar,” the UNSC said in a statement.
Collective Response
Describing the attack as “state terrorism,” the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, said that Qatar “will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or security.” He pointed to the formation of a legal team to initiate all legal proceedings against what he described as a rogue act, according to QNA.
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, the Qatari Prime Minister said that Israel’ attack “killed any hope” for the remaining hostages in Gaza, adding that Doha was considering a “collective response” with regional partners.
“There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region,” he noted. “We are hoping for something meaningful that deters Israel from continuing this bullying,” the Qatari Prime Minister added.
Saudi Solidarity
In the light of this, Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the Israeli brutal aggression and the blatant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar, reaffirming full solidarity and support for Qatar in any measure it may take. It also warned of the grave consequences of Israel’s persistent criminal assaults and its blatant violations of the principles of international law and norms.
Furthermore, the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, reiterated Saudi Arabia’s full support for Qatar in any measures it takes, stressing that the Kingdom is deploying all its capabilities to stand with Qatar without limit.
On Saturday, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Doha to take part in the preparatory meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers ahead of the summit.
Rubio in Israel
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, arrived in Israel on Sunday, where he will meet with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip.
“My focus will be on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas. Hamas cannot continue to exist if peace in the region is the goal,” he posted on X.
Before leaving for Israel, Rubio told reporters on Saturday that he would discuss Israel’s future plan for Gaza after the attack on Hamas leaders in Doha. “We’re going to talk about what the future holds, and I’m going to get a much better understanding of what their plans are moving forward,” he said.
Rubio also reiterated the US administration frustration with the Israeli strike, although it would have no impact on Washington’s support for Israel. “Obviously we’re not happy about it. The president was not happy about it. Now we need to move forward and figure out what comes next,” he noted.
Both Rubio and Vice President, JD Vance, met on Friday with the Qatari Prime Minister at the White House, before he met with the US President, Donald Trump, and Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, in New York.
Trump “wants Hamas defeated, he wants the war to end, he wants all 48 hostages home, including those that are deceased, and he wants it all at once. And we’ll have to discuss about how the events last week had an impact on the ability to achieve that in short order,” Rubio said.
