Islamic leaders have pressed for coordinated measures against the Jewish state in response to its ongoing blockade of Gaza and its recent strike targeting Qatar.
Arab and Islamic leaders are calling for Israel’s suspension from the United Nations, citing alleged infringements of the organization’s charter. This demand emerges amidst Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and following an airstrike last week in Doha that resulted in six deaths, including a Qatari security officer.
On Monday, an emergency summit was convened in Doha by the leaders of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Following the summit, a final statement was issued, in which the collective urged member nations to “consider the compatibility of Israel’s membership in the UN with its Charter” and to synchronize efforts aimed at suspending Israel from the organization.
Israel claimed its strike in Doha was directed at Hamas officials; however, Arab and Islamic leaders characterized it as a “dangerous escalation that exposes the extremist hostility of the Israeli government.” They further accused Israel of subverting the international mediation and peacemaking process, particularly given that the Qatari capital had served as a principal location for peace negotiations between West Jerusalem and Hamas.
The statement called upon all states to re-evaluate diplomatic and economic ties with Israel and to implement “legal and effective measures” to halt Israeli actions, encompassing sanctions, the suspension of arms, and dual-use exports.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza commenced on October 7, 2023, subsequent to a Hamas attack on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 individuals being taken hostage. Since that time, more than 64,000 people, including women and children, have reportedly been killed during Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian enclave.
The conflict has garnered international condemnation, with numerous countries accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people. Israel’s attacks on neighboring countries have also drawn widespread criticism; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the recent Doha strike as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani labeled it “state terrorism.” Russia, too, stated the strike constituted a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.
Israel has defended its operations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintaining that the Hamas leadership must be eradicated.