Reuters. Gulf leaders said on Monday (September 15) that the security of their states was indivisible, during the closing statement of the emergency Arabic-Islamic summit following Israel’s attack on Hamas in Doha.
The closing press conference in Doha brought together Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi, Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki, and OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Yousef bin Mohammed al-Dubaie, who all reiterated solidarity with Qatar following the attack.
In a written statement Gulf leaders also announced that the Gulf Cooperation Council’s joint defence body will meet in Doha and called for measures to activate the bloc's "joint defence mechanism," without providing further details.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders "wherever they are," as the heads of Arab and Islamic states held a summit to show support for Qatar after Israel's attack on the Gulf state last week.
The September 9 strike targeting leaders of the Palestinian militant group in Doha marked a significant escalation of Israeli military action in a region shaken by conflict since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks that ignited the Gaza war.
While the assembled Arab and Muslim leaders were expressing solidarity with Qatar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Netanyahu and gave strong backing for Israel's hardline stance, although Washington has expressed unease over the Qatar strike.
