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Qatar will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Sept. 14-15 to address Israel’s airstrike on Doha, the state news agency QNA reported Thursday.
On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out a strike targeting senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, reportedly killing five members of the group. Hamas said its leadership survived the attack. Israel’s military described it as a “precise strike” on Hamas leadership.
The attack triggered widespread condemnation as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. Doha denounced it as a “cowardly act” and warned it would not tolerate Israel’s “reckless behavior.”
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Wednesday that a collective regional response is being prepared in coordination with Arab and Islamic partners.
“There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region,” Al Thani told CNN. “We are hoping for something meaningful that deters Israel from continuing this bullying.”
He confirmed that Doha will host the summit to determine measures against the Israeli strike, which targeted Hamas leaders meeting to discuss a U.S. ceasefire proposal.
“I have no words to express how enraged we are at such an act. This is state terror. We are betrayed,” Al Thani said.
The prime minister accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing ceasefire efforts and dashing hopes for hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
“I was meeting one of the hostages’ families the morning of the attack. They are counting on this mediation. They have no other hope for that,” Al Thani said. “Netanyahu just killed any hope for those hostages… He needs to be brought to justice.”
He added that Qatar is reassessing its role in Gaza ceasefire talks following the strike.
Al Thani did not confirm the fate of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, saying: “Until now… there is no official declaration.” Hamas initially reported five members killed but said Israel failed to assassinate its negotiating delegation.
“We are trying to identify if there is any other one missing… there are Qataris who are in a very dangerous situation,” Al Thani said.
He warned that Netanyahu is steering the Middle East toward chaos, putting the Gulf region at risk.
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Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians since October 2023, according to local health authorities. The campaign has devastated the enclave, where 2.4 million people face famine after Israel closed border crossings on March 2.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
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