DOHA, Sept 15 — In a strong and urgent call to the global community, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani condemned what he called “double standards” in international diplomacy and demanded that Israel be held accountable for its actions, just one day ahead of a high-stakes emergency summit in Doha.
The summit, prompted by an unprecedented and deadly Israeli strike on Hamas members in the Qatari capital, has drawn fierce global attention. The attack—conducted by Israel, a key US ally, within the territory of another US partner—sparked global backlash, including a public rebuke from President Donald Trump. Yet, in a diplomatic tightrope, Trump has still chosen to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Tel Aviv in a show of US solidarity with Israel.
Set for Monday, the emergency summit will bring together leaders from across the Arab and Islamic world. It is intended as both a show of unity and a strategic attempt to increase global pressure on Israel, which is currently under intensifying international criticism for its military campaign and humanitarian toll in Gaza.
“The time has come for the international community to stop using double standards and to punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Sheikh Mohammed told delegates at a preparatory meeting on Sunday. “This war of extermination in Gaza must not be allowed to succeed,” he added.
He also warned that Israel’s continued aggression is fueled by “the silence and inability of the global community to hold it accountable.”
Global Leaders Respond
The Doha summit is expected to be attended by several high-profile leaders including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who arrived in the Qatari capital on Sunday. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s attendance remains uncertain, though his recent visit to Doha was seen as a gesture of solidarity.
Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that Monday’s meeting will address “a draft resolution on the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar”, highlighting the gravity with which Doha is treating the incident.
Regional Leaders Call for Unified Action
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan went further, stating in an interview with Al Jazeera that “the issue is no longer just about Palestine and Israel—it’s about Israeli expansionism threatening regional stability.” He called on Arab and Islamic nations to urgently form a united front.
Harvard Middle East fellow Elham Fakhro noted that the Gulf states are likely to pressure Washington to “rein in Israel”, stressing that the recent strike has deeply shaken their trust in existing US security guarantees.
Karim Bitar, a Middle East expert from Sciences Po University in Paris, called the summit a “litmus test” for Arab and Muslim leadership, remarking that public patience has worn thin. “What the people want now is more than words. They want bold, unified action—and they want the West, especially the US, to stop giving Israel a blank check,” he said.
A Moment for Conscience and Unity
Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region, plays a critical role in mediating the Israel-Hamas conflict alongside the United States and Egypt. The Qatari Prime Minister even met with President Trump just days ago in Washington—an indication of Doha’s diplomatic balancing act.
As the summit convenes, eyes from around the world will be watching—hopeful that this gathering won’t just end in statements but ignite genuine geopolitical change.
But behind the politics, the urgency is human.
Every delay in justice adds to the suffering in Gaza. Every double standard erodes the faith of people watching in anguish. And every missed opportunity to speak up is a silent endorsement of suffering. The world doesn’t need more silence—it needs courage. The kind that rises from conscience, not convenience.
