Arab, Muslim leaders hold emergency talks after Israel’s Qatar attack

Arab, Muslim leaders hold emergency talks after Israel’s Qatar attack

DUBAI: Qatar’s Ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Monday said Israel’s government was exploiting the ongoing war in Gaza to expand settlements and change the status quo, adding the negotiations were just a pretext to Israel’s military operations in the besieged territory.

“If Israel aims to assassinate Hamas leaders, why is it negotiating with them?” the Qatari ruler said in his opening statement to Arab and Muslim leaders gathered for an emergency summit in Doha on Monday.

“Israel’s government thinks it can impose a ‘fait accompli’ on the Arabs,” the ruler added.

The joint Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit called by Qatar seeks to pile pressure on Israel, which has been facing mounting calls to end the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Hamas says top officials survived last week’s air strike in Doha that killed six people and triggered a wave of criticism, including from US President Donald Trump.

A draft final statement seen by AFP warned that “brutal Israeli aggression” put efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states at risk.

It “threatens all that has been achieved on the path toward establishing normal relations with Israel, including existing and future agreements,” the draft added.

Israel and its main backer the United States have been trying to extend the Abraham Accords that established ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in 2020.

READ ALSO:

• IPOB: Judge transfers Nnamdi Kanu’s case to CJ
• NASFAT speaks on FG’s N250bn credit support for farmers
• UK court throws out bid to transfer Jerry Useni London property to Mike Ozekhome, others

Last week’s attack and Israel’s “genocide (and) ethnic cleansing (in Gaza) … undermines the prospects of achieving peace and peaceful coexistence in the region,” the draft statement said.

“The time has come for the international community to stop using double standards and to punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a preparatory meeting at the weekend.

Alongside Egypt and the United States, Qatar has led mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas in the war in Gaza.

The nearly 60-country grouping in Doha will also emphasize “the concept of collective security… as well as the necessity of aligning together to face common challenges and threats,” according to the draft.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Doha to attend the summit, state media said.

Among the leaders gathered on Monday were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were also attending.

An extraordinary meeting of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council would also be held in Doha on Monday, according to Saudi state media.

The United Nations Human Rights Council said it would host an urgent debate on Tuesday on Israel’s air strike targeting Hamas in Qatar.

Meanwhile US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Israel in a demonstration of Washington’s unwavering support.

Arab, Muslim leaders hold emergency talks after Israel’s Qatar attack

ARAB NEWS