Arab-Islamic summit backs Qatar after Israeli strike

Arab and Islamic leaders are gathering in Doha for an emergency summit to show support for Qatar after an Israeli airstrike last week targeted Hamas officials on its soil, killing five members of the group and a Qatari security officer.

An Arab-Islamic leaders’ summit is expected to open Monday in Qatar, aiming to rally solidarity after Israel’s strike on Hamas inside the Gulf state heightened regional tensions.

A draft resolution seen by Reuters condemned Israel’s attack as a destabilizing escalation and rejected what it called attempts to “impose a new reality in the region.” The draft, however, stopped short of proposing sanctions or diplomatic measures.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Sunday that the attack would not deter Doha’s mediation efforts with Egypt and the U.S. to end the nearly two-year Gaza war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed Qatar to expel Hamas leaders or hand them over, warning that Israel would act otherwise. Qatar dismissed the pressure, accusing Israel of “state terrorism” and undermining peace efforts.

The U.S., while reaffirming its support for Qatar, has expressed disapproval of the Israeli strike. President Donald Trump said it did not serve American or Israeli interests, though he reiterated that eliminating Hamas remained a “worthy goal.”

The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, summoned the Israeli envoy in protest, stressing that Qatar’s stability is vital to the Gulf’s security.

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