Israel’s Doha Attack Threatens Arab Normalisation Efforts, says Draft Resolution

DOHA: Israeli strikes on Qatar last week and continued hostile actions threaten to derail Arab states’ normalisation of ties with Tel Aviv, according to a draft resolution prepared for the Arab-Islamic summit, Reuters reported on Sunday.

The updated draft reaffirmed that the “brutal Israeli attack on Qatar and Israel’s hostile acts including genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, siege and expansionist policies threaten the prospects of peace and coexistence in the region”. It also warned that Israel’s actions “threaten everything achieved so far on the path of normalising ties, including current agreements and future ones” — a message seen as directed at Washington, which has been pushing Gulf nations to join the Abraham Accords.

Addressing the foreign ministers’ preparatory meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the “reckless and provocative” assault on Doha, terming it a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. He called Israel “an unabashed aggressor” and urged that it be held “accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity”.

Dar proposed the formation of an Arab-Islamic task force to “monitor Israeli designs in the region and adopt effective deterrent and offensive measures in a synchronized manner”. He also stressed the need for a “time-bound political process” to achieve a two-state solution in line with international law and UN resolutions.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani echoed the call, urging the international community to “punish Israel” and warning that the attack on Doha must be met with firm measures. OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha also emphasised cementing Arab-Islamic cooperation to prevent future attacks and advance Palestinian statehood.

The extraordinary Arab League–OIC summit, convened after Israel’s Sept 9 attack in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, is set to be attended by heads of state from across the Arab and Islamic world on Monday.