DOHA, Sept 15 — In a powerful appeal echoing far beyond regional politics, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on the international community to stop applying “double standards” and to finally hold Israel accountable for its ongoing military actions, particularly in Gaza.
The remarks came just one day before a highly anticipated emergency summit in Doha, convened in response to what Qatar has described as an unprecedented Israeli strike on Hamas members within its territory. The strike, carried out by a US ally against another, sparked global outrage—so much so that even former President Donald Trump, while showing support through Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel, publicly rebuked the action.
The summit, scheduled for Monday, will bring together leaders from across the Arab and Islamic world in a moment of rare unity, with one clear message: accountability and justice can no longer be delayed.
“What encourages Israel to continue this path,” said Sheikh Mohammed during a preparatory session, “is the silence—and the inability—of the international community to act.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha on Sunday, joining figures such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s attendance remains unconfirmed, though his recent visit to Qatar signals solidarity.
Beyond Palestine: A Regional Wake-Up Call
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan went further, telling Al Jazeera that this is no longer merely a Palestine-Israel issue. “The biggest problem right now is Israeli expansionism in the region,” he warned, calling on Arab and Islamic countries to come together and define a collective solution.
Elham Fakhro, fellow at Harvard’s Middle East Initiative, expects Gulf nations to use the summit not only to pressure Israel but also to question Washington’s ability to provide genuine security guarantees. “Israel’s actions have exposed the limits of current arrangements,” she noted.
Karim Bitar of Sciences Po in Paris referred to the gathering as a “litmus test” for regional leadership. “The people are done with old-style communiques. They want bold, unified action—and a clear message to Israel and the United States that impunity must end,” he stressed.
Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region, is a key mediator in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, alongside the US and Egypt. Sheikh Mohammed had dinner with President Trump during a recent visit to the US—a moment underscoring the diplomatic tightrope Qatar walks in balancing Western alliances with Arab solidarity.
A Cry from Gaza, A Plea for Unity
Hamas politburo member Bassem Naim called for “a decisive and unified Arab-Islamic position,” underscoring the deep expectation placed on this summit by both governments and grassroots movements alike.
