Gulf Leaders Urge US to Constrain Israel After Doha Strike

Gulf leaders convened at an emergency summit in Qatar to call for the United States to leverage its influence in restraining Israel following an attempted assassination of Hamas negotiators in Doha. The unprecedented attack occurred last Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of five Hamas officials.

During a press conference after the meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the group’s secretary general, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, emphasized the need for the Trump administration to act decisively. He stated, “We expect our strategic partners in the United States to use their influence on Israel in order for it to stop this behaviour. They have leverage and influence on Israel, and it’s about time that this leverage and influence be used.”

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, condemned the attack, describing it as “a cowardly and treacherous attack on Qatar’s sovereignty.” He criticized Israel’s self-portrayal as a democracy, asserting instead that it operates as a colonial occupation engaging in limitless crimes.

GCC’s Response and Military Measures

In a formal statement following the summit, the GCC announced plans to instruct their unified military command to activate joint defense mechanisms and Gulf deterrent capabilities. The statement indicated that an assessment would take place regarding the Council’s defense posture in light of the recent aggression directed towards Qatar.

GCC defense ministers have convened regularly, but the Joint Defense Council has only been activated in similar circumstances twice before: during the Gulf War in 1991 against Iraq and during the Arab Spring in 2011. The summit’s main outcome aimed to unify Arab and Muslim leaders in their support for Qatar, but the responses tended to lean more towards rhetorical condemnation of Israel rather than actionable measures.

Strategic Implications and Future Actions

Despite the strong language against Israel, the GCC refrained from imposing immediate economic or political consequences, such as suspending the Abraham Accords. This 2020 agreement, which saw five Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, normalize relations with Israel, remains intact for now.

The absence of specific reprisals in the joint statement may provide some reassurance to the United States, which is working to prevent a complete breakdown in Arab-Israeli relations and possible escalation of conflict. However, the discussions planned by the GCC’s unified defense command could lead to calls from some Arab nations to reduce their reliance on the US for security.

As the situation evolves, the dynamics within the Gulf region may shift, reflecting broader implications not only for relations with Israel but also for the strategic landscape of Middle Eastern politics.