Following Israeli airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Doha on September 9, 2025, Arab countries condemned the attack as a violation of international law and Qatar's sovereignty. Regional leaders quickly offered solidarity with Qatar, which called for a collective response from the Gulf and wider Arab world.
Immediate reactions and
diplomatic gestures
- Widespread condemnation: Arab
nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman,
Jordan, and Egypt, condemned the Israeli attack. Saudi Arabia called it
"brutal Israeli aggression" and a "blatant violation" of
Qatar's sovereignty, pledging solidarity and support. Egypt argued the
strike undermined its mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas.
- High-level solidarity visits: A rapid
series of diplomatic visits to Doha underscored regional solidarity:
- UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
Al Nahyan was the first head of state to visit, arriving on September 10
to meet with Qatar's Emir.
- The crown princes of Kuwait and Jordan
also traveled to Doha.
- Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman planned to visit shortly after.
- Concern over international law: The UAE labeled the strike a "serious attack on international law" and the UN Charter.
Qatari response and calls for
collective action
- "State terrorism": Qatari
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
characterized the attack as an act of "state terrorism" and said
it required a regional response.
- Mediation efforts
suspended: Following the attack, Qatar announced it would suspend its
mediation role between Israel and Hamas. Qatar's Foreign Minister noted
that targeting Hamas leaders, who were meeting to discuss a U.S.-backed
ceasefire proposal, demonstrated that Israel was not negotiating in good
faith.
- Arab-Islamic summit: In response to the strikes, an Arab-Islamic summit was reportedly scheduled to take place in Doha on September 15 to discuss a collective response.
Reshaping regional alliances
- Shaken
- : The attack has cast
doubt on further expansion of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, which
normalized ties between trust in the U.S.: The Israeli strike,
reportedly conducted with limited U.S. foreknowledge, has prompted Gulf
states to question the reliability of U.S. security guarantees. Some
analysts suggest this could lead Gulf countries to reassess their
longstanding pivot toward the U.S..
- Abraham Accords jeopardizedIsrael and some Arab states. The strike united Gulf countries in condemnation of Israel, regardless of their diplomatic relationships.
Following the September 2025 Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, Arab countries reacted with widespread condemnation and diplomatic action. The attack, which took place in Doha, was seen as a major violation of Qatar's sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.
Immediate condemnations
- Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Foreign
Ministry strongly condemned the "brutal Israeli aggression" and
"blatant violation of the sovereignty" of Qatar, offering its
full solidarity and support. The Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was
scheduled to visit Doha shortly after the attack in a show of support.
- United Arab Emirates: President
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan traveled to Doha to express solidarity
with Qatar. A statement from the UAE's state news agency characterized the
strike as a "serious attack on international law".
- Egypt: A key partner in mediation
efforts between Israel and Hamas, Egypt condemned the strike as a
"flagrant violation of international law" and a dangerous
precedent.
- Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey: These countries also issued strong condemnations, with Jordan's Crown Prince making a solidarity visit to Doha.
Diplomatic responses and
implications
- Regional solidarity: The diplomatic
visits to Doha by leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan marked a
notable public display of regional unity with Qatar, despite past
political differences.
- Undermining normalization: The attack
further strained Israel's ties with Gulf states and damaged the prospects
for expanding the Abraham Accords. Countries like the UAE, which had
normalized relations, viewed Israel's actions as a security risk and a
direct threat to their regional de-escalation strategies.
- Impact on mediation: Qatar's Prime
Minister accused Israel of "state terrorism" and seeking to
undermine peace efforts. The attack led Qatar to suspend its mediation
role, further complicating ongoing ceasefire talks in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Questioning U.S. guarantees: The
incident raised concerns among Gulf nations about the reliability of the
United States as a security partner. Despite the U.S. expressing
disapproval and distancing itself from the strike, it failed to prevent an
attack on the soil of a close ally that hosts a major American military
base. This has prompted Gulf countries to question their reliance on U.S.
protection and consider deepening ties with other global powers like China
and Russia.
- Arab-Islamic summit: In response, Qatar's Prime Minister announced that regional countries would consider a collective response at an "Arab-Islamic summit" in Doha.
https://www.google.com/search?q=post+qatar+strike+reactions+by+arab+countries+2025
Comments
The Arab reaction to Israel’s bombing in Quatar has complicated the Trump Team’s work with these countries.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
No comments:
Post a Comment