Arab-Islamic countries meeting in Qatar accuse Israel of "genocide" and call for an urgent response from the international community.

BeirutThe emergency Arab-Islamic summit held this Monday in Doha was organized against the clock after Last week's Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Qatari territoryThe incident called into question the emirate's role as a regional mediator and forced its leaders to act quickly to avoid losing influence in an increasingly fragile environment. The meeting brought together heads of state and foreign ministers from more than twenty countries, with the aim of establishing a common position in the face of the escalating violence and sending a clear political message: Israel must be stopped.

Arab leaders sought to adopt a more forceful tone against Israel and called for the mobilization of the international community, especially the United States. Reuters and the Qatari website Al Jazeera have had access to the draft of the joint declaration. The document condemns the attacks on Doha and accuses Israel of "hostile acts," including "genocide, ethnic cleansing, and starvation" against the population of the Gaza Strip. It also highlights the expansion of "colonial activities" that the Netanyahu government is promoting in the West Bank. All of this, according to the draft, threatens "the prospects for peace and coexistence" in the region and hinders the prospect of further establishing ties between Israel and the Arab and Islamic states.

It seems that sanctions against Israel would be on the table, although the apparent unity could be shattered because each country has a different sensitivity toward Israel. However, the forcefulness of all states against Tel Aviv has been palpable and growing. Among the possible sanctions are a ban on Israeli aviation in regional airspace, as well as diplomatic pressure leveraging the influence of some countries—such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan—which normalized relations with Israel between 2020 and 2021, worth billions of euros. Also proposed is the creation of a regional mechanism to protect the sovereignty of member states. In recent days, Qatar has urged the international community to "punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed" and announced that it will take legal action against the Israeli authorities.

Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who hosted the event, which brought together major figures from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Turkey, set the tone for the meeting: "It is state terrorism," he said, referring to the meeting. Al-Thani, who emphasized Doha's prestige as an essential player in the region, stressed that the attack undermined regional mediation and stability, and that the international community must assume responsibility to prevent similar events from happening again.

The meeting showed broad consensus in condemning the attack, but also the limitations of a fragmented Arab front. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, summoned the Israeli ambassador to express its protest, an unusual gesture that reflects the discomfort of the Gulf countries that championed normalization. The common concern is that the attack on Doha will erode the legitimacy of these agreements among their own populations and leave Gulf governments politically exposed.

Netanyahu threatens more attacks like the one in Doha.

And while the condemnation was being prepared in Doha, in Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a dual-purpose message. On the one hand, to reaffirm Washington's strategic support for Israel and, on the other, to convey the White House's dissatisfaction with the attack on Qatari territory, a key partner in the regional mediation. Rubio made it clear that the event would have repercussions for the truce efforts in Gaza, although it would not alter the bilateral relationship. Netanyahu defended the operation, insisting that the objective was to remove obstacles to the release of hostages and that no territory should be considered safe for armed groups: "Hamas leaders will be attacked wherever they are," Netanyahu said, threatening further attacks like the one in Doha if deemed necessary. Tel Aviv says it wants to send a message to the leaders of the Islamist group that they will not be safe anywhere in the world.

Rubio took advantage of his visit to tour the Western Wall and reiterate US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, an image interpreted in the region as a reminder of the scope of the strategic alliance despite diplomatic tensions. Rubio plans to continue his trip to Doha to contain the political damage and reaffirm his commitment to his Arab allies.

The clash of agendas highlights the fragility of the regional scenario. Qatar, the target of an attack that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari official, seeks to reinforce its legitimacy as a mediator by presenting itself as the victim of a violation of international law. States such as the UAE and Bahrain, which championed normalization, fear that the episode will undermine the credibility of their agreements and reinforce the perception that Israel acts without restraint or consideration for its partners. Washington, for its part, is trying to maintain support for Israel without burning bridges with the Arab allies essential to any regional security architecture.

Contrast Scenarios

The attack on Doha marks a turning point. Arab normalization with Israel has always been fragile, sustained by promises of stability and economic benefits. A bombing targeting negotiators in a mediating country undermines these premises. The summit demonstrated rhetorical muscle and a will for unity, but the effectiveness of its resolutions will depend on leaders moving from words to deeds. Without sanctions or tangible consequences, Israel will hardly perceive any real cost.

For his part, Marco Rubio sees the visit as a diplomatic test of fire. He must demonstrate that the United States does not support operations that put its partners on the ropes, but without sending signals of weakness in its support for Tel Aviv. And in Gaza, the bombings continue. This reality, more than any summit, dictates the pulse of the region.