Qatar’s Emir Blasts Israel at Arab League–OIC Summit, Vows Action After Deadly Strike in Doha
For our part, we are determined to do whatever is necessary and permitted by international law to preserve our sovereignty and confront this Israeli aggression.”
Doha, Qatar – September 15, 2025
In a searing address to an extraordinary joint meeting of Arab League leaders and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Doha, Qatar’s Emir condemned Israel for the September 9 airstrike that killed six people—including five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer—while senior Hamas negotiators were reviewing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal.
The Emir declared that the attack was not only an assault on Qatari sovereignty but also a direct blow to ongoing peace efforts, saying:
“The citizens and residents of this safe country were surprised, and the whole world was shocked with them. Not only because this aggression is a blatant and dangerous violation of a state’s sovereignty and trampling on international conventions and norms, but also because of the special circumstances surrounding this cowardly terrorist act.
Qatar, thousands of miles from the launch site of the attacking aircraft, is a mediating state that has been making strenuous efforts for two years to reach a settlement that would halt the deadly and destructive war being waged against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, which has long since turned into a war of extermination. And for the release of the Israeli hostages and Doha hosts delegations from Hamas and Israelis during these negotiations.
The mediation in cooperation with sister countries Egypt and the United States of America has already achieved the release of 13 hostages in exchange for two truces in 2023 and 2025. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are released. But Israel continued the war, and we continued to mediate in the hope of achieving a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza strip, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.”
The Emir went on to outline three “facts” that he said demand not only an emergency summit but “concrete steps to confront the state of power madness, arrogance, and bloodlust that has afflicted the Israeli government”:
“First, the insistence on continuing the war of extermination, displacement, and settlement expansion in Palestine. Secondly, blatant interference in the sovereignty of Arab countries. Thirdly and finally, the treacherous aggression against my safe, peacemaking country, which has dedicated its diplomacy to resolving conflicts through peaceful means, for which it is appreciated and respected everywhere. For our part, we are determined to do whatever is necessary and permitted by international law to preserve our sovereignty and confront this Israeli aggression.”
The Emir’s remarks drew strong applause from Arab and OIC leaders, many of whom have already condemned the strike as a flagrant violation of international law and a dangerous precedent for mediators in conflict zones. Egypt and Turkey have called for an urgent U.N. Security Council session, while Saudi Arabia urged “decisive collective measures to protect diplomatic processes.”
The U.S. State Department said it was “deeply concerned” and reiterated its support for Qatar’s mediation efforts, noting that the Gulf state has been a “critical partner” in efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire and secure the release of hostages.
Qatar has long served as a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas. In 2023 and 2025, Qatari-brokered deals—supported by Egypt and the United States—resulted in two temporary truces, the release of 13 Israeli hostages, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Analysts warn that the latest strike may undermine any remaining trust and could stall or derail the newest U.S.-backed proposal for a permanent ceasefire.
Israel has not formally acknowledged the Doha operation but has repeated its policy of targeting Hamas leadership “wherever they are,” arguing that Hamas uses diplomatic settings as cover for planning attacks. Israeli officials have yet to comment on the Emir’s speech.
With the Emir pledging that Qatar will “do whatever is necessary and permitted by international law to preserve our sovereignty,” regional observers say the incident has heightened tensions and may mark a turning point in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
