Qatar calls emergency meeting of Arab, Muslim states following Israeli attack

Qatar is set to host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit next Sunday and Monday to discuss the unprecedented Israeli attack on the Qatari capital that targeted Hamas leaders this week.

First reported by state news agency QNA, which announced the invitation, it was later confirmed on Wednesday by Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

In an interview with CNN, the Prime Minister said that Qatar hopes there will be a "collective regional response" to the Israeli attack on Hamas officials in Doha, adding: "It is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region."

Al Thani expressed hope that the meeting would result in a "collective response" against Israel that would effectively deter it from further attacks. 

He also called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Court for war crimes in Gaza, to be brought to justice as the genocidal assault on the devastated Palestinian enclave continued.

"[Benjamin Netanyahu] must be brought to justice… He is wanted by the International Criminal Court. He is violating every law — he has broken all international laws," he said, adding that the Israeli leader "is trying to undermine any chance for stability and any chance for peace."

Al Thani also addressed Israeli talking points, particularly Defence Minister Israel Katz's threat that Israel would "act against its enemies anywhere".

The Qatari Prime Minister argued that it is "public knowledge" that ceasefire negotiations have taken place with Hamas leaders as part of Qatar’s mediation role in truce talks.

He added: "Everything about the meetings is well known to the Israelis and the Americans. This is not something we are hiding… There is no justification for labelling this as harbouring terrorism."

Al Thani also added that the Israeli attack targeting the homes of several members of Hamas’s political bureau residing in the Gulf country has "killed any hope" for the hostages still in Gaza.

"I believe what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did yesterday was simply to kill any hope for those hostages... I can’t find the words to express how angry we are about this assault. It is state terrorism. We have been betrayed," he said.

He further warned that Israel and Hamas are "running out of chances" to reach a ceasefire agreement, with Qatar acting as a key mediator alongside Egypt and the US amid stalled truce talks.

"I met with one of the hostage families on the morning of the attack. They are relying on this mediation; they have no other hope," he said.

He went on to say that Qatar is "re-evaluating everything" concerning its role in any upcoming ceasefire negotiations, stressing that the country is in “very detailed conversations” with the US administration about the way forward.

On Tuesday, Israel launched airstrikes in the Qatari capital targeting Hamas leadership, drawing widespread condemnation from Arab and Gulf states, as well as countries across the world.

Hamas claimed the attack failed to hit its senior negotiators, though five of its members were killed, including the son of the Palestinian group’s leader Khalil al-Hayya.