Doha, September 15, 2025
An emergency joint summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League was convened in Doha on Monday after an Israeli missile strike hit the Qatari capital. The meeting, called at Qatar’s request, brought together representatives of 57 states to discuss a collective response.
In a joint statement, leaders denounced the attack on Doha as an “act of aggression against all Arab and Islamic nations.”
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The declaration urged sanctions against Israel, including a ban on arms supplies, and floated the idea of suspending Israel’s membership in the United Nations.
The timing was significant. Hours earlier, a UN Commission formally recognized Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide, citing killings, deliberate harm, and policies aimed at destroying the Palestinian population after October 7, 2023. The report referenced public statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials as evidence of intent. Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the findings as “lies” and demanded the commission’s dissolution.
Against this backdrop, the summit’s calls for sanctions and arms embargoes carried new symbolic weight. Yet analysts doubt the pledges will translate into action.
“Although Arab and Islamic states formally expressed solidarity and agreement to resist Israel’s push for a new status quo, it is unlikely real joint measures will follow,” said political analyst Elkhan Shahinoglu in comments to Minval Politika.
He argued that Qatar’s decision to convene the summit was as much about safeguarding its international image as it was about countering Israel. Rather than issuing a direct military or political response, Doha opted for diplomatic theater.
The Israeli strike, reportedly targeting Hamas offices in Doha, also underscored the limits of U.S. protection in the region. Despite the presence of a major American base in Qatar, Tel Aviv acted without apparent restraint.
“Israel showed it will pursue Hamas operatives anywhere in the world, regardless of U.S. sensitivities or international consequences,” Shahinoglu noted.
That message, he said, is meant not only for Qatar but also for Egypt and Turkey, where Hamas members frequently meet. Yet any Israeli strike on Egyptian or Turkish soil would risk igniting a regional war.
Meanwhile, Israel has escalated its military campaign in Gaza. International condemnation is growing, but most governments lack leverage to halt the operation.
According to Shahinoglu, Israel is unlikely to stop until hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled—objectives that could prolong the conflict despite mounting civilian casualties.
