Leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world descended upon Doha, Qatar, this week for an emergency summit that has captured the attention of the region and the world. The joint meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League, held on September 16, 2025, comes in the wake of a dramatic Israeli airstrike on a Hamas delegation in Qatar—a strike that killed six people, triggered a wave of international criticism, and has now cast a long shadow over efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
The summit, convened at the initiative of Qatar with the backing of Turkey, which currently chairs the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, marks the third such emergency gathering between the two major regional bodies. The urgency and gravity of the situation were clear: the agenda, finalized in a preparatory meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers just days prior, focused squarely on Israel’s September 9 attack in Doha, the relentless violence in Gaza and the West Bank, and broader issues of occupation and annexation that have long plagued the region.
According to Anadolu, the summit brought together a formidable roster of leaders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were among those in attendance. Their presence underscored the scale of regional concern and the desire for a unified response.
As reported by Euractiv, the summit was called to increase pressure on Israel, which faces mounting calls to end the war in Gaza and address a deepening humanitarian crisis. The attack in Doha, which Hamas claims its top officials survived, has only intensified scrutiny of Israel’s conduct and the broader dynamics of normalization between Israel and Arab states. A draft final statement seen by AFP warned that “brutal Israeli aggression” now threatens not only the fragile peace process but also the normalization agreements brokered in recent years, such as the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
The draft statement was unambiguous: “The Israeli attack on Qatar, and the continuation of Israel’s hostile actions, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, siege, settlement growth and expansionist policies, threaten prospects for peace and coexistence in the region, and jeopardise all that has been achieved in the path of normalising relations with Israel, including current and future agreements.” This sentiment echoed across the summit, with Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani urging the international community to “stop using double standards and to punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed.”
Yet, as the summit unfolded, it became clear that rhetoric alone would not satisfy many observers. Social media platforms lit up with criticism and disappointment over the draft resolution, as reported by Arabi21. Activists and ordinary citizens alike argued that the language of the draft did not match the seriousness of Israel’s attack on Qatar or the widespread anger it provoked. Many described the statement as “weak and disappointing,” calling instead for stronger, more decisive action. The draft, they said, repeated the same traditional language used in past summits—language that, in their view, has failed to deter Israeli violations or bring about meaningful change.
“People expect practical decisions, not just statements of condemnation,” wrote one activist on X, reflecting a broader sense of frustration. The gap between the urgency of the situation and the perceived timidity of official responses was palpable, and it remains to be seen whether the summit’s final communiqué will address these concerns or merely echo the familiar patterns of the past.
Meanwhile, diplomatic activity swirled around the summit. On September 14, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Aati in Doha on the sidelines of the Arab and Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting. According to IraqiNews.com, their talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and reviewing regional developments, particularly the war in Gaza. Both ministers expressed deep concern over Israeli attempts to forcibly displace residents of the Gaza Strip into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, warning that such actions would endanger Egypt’s security and further destabilize the region. They also underscored the importance of stabilizing Syria as part of a broader push for regional security and coordination within the Arab-Islamic framework.
In parallel, an extraordinary meeting of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council was also held in Doha, reflecting the sense of crisis enveloping the region. The United Nations Human Rights Council announced it would host an urgent debate on September 16 to address Israel’s airstrike on Hamas in Qatar, underscoring the issue’s global resonance. According to Euractiv, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel at the same time, a demonstration of Washington’s unwavering support for its ally—an act that did not go unnoticed by the assembled leaders in Doha, many of whom have called for greater international accountability.
Amid these high-level deliberations, there was a clear sense that the time for mere rhetoric had passed. “Many people are looking at actions, not just rhetoric,” observed Aziz Algashian, a Saudi-based researcher into international relations in the Middle East. “We’ve exhausted all forms of rhetoric. Now it’s just going to have to be actions – and we’ll see what those actions will be.”
Expectations for the summit were high, as noted by Aaron David Miller, a former State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator. With the region at a crossroads and the stakes higher than ever, the world is watching to see whether the leaders gathered in Doha will move beyond statements and take concrete steps to address the spiraling crisis.
As the summit drew to a close, the leaders reaffirmed the concept of collective security and the necessity of aligning together to face common challenges and threats. Yet, the real test will be in the days and weeks to come: will this gathering mark a turning point in the region’s response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or will it be remembered as another missed opportunity?
For now, the eyes of the world remain fixed on Doha—waiting, hoping, and demanding more than words.
