Leaders from Arab-Islamic nations are meeting today to discuss a possible joint response to Israel’s recent strike in Doha that killed six people, including five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. Among the leaders attending will be Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also be in Doha, but his presence at the meeting is yet to be confirmed.

 

 

Ahead of the meeting, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani strongly condemned Israel, calling the attack state terrorism and warning it undermined mediation efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza. He said the strike happened while Qatar was hosting official negotiations with Israel’s knowledge aimed at stopping the war. Sheikh Mohammed urged the international community to end double standards and hold Israel accountable for its actions. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also criticised Israel, warning that ignoring such attacks would encourage more violence.

 

 

Meanwhile, Israel has not directly responded to the Qatari accusations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, saying Hamas leaders in Qatar were blocking ceasefire efforts and stood in the way of releasing Israeli hostages. Hamas officials said they hope today’s summit will result in a unified and decisive Arab-Islamic stance on the war.