Qatar PM Blasts Israel's 'Attack on Diplomacy' as Arab Leaders Convene for Emergency Summit
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani delivered a blistering condemnation of Israel on Tuesday, accusing it of deliberately sabotaging peace efforts with targeted assassinations, as Arab leaders gathered in Riyadh for an emergency summit aimed at containing the spiraling Gaza conflict.
Speaking at the opening of the summit, Sheikh Mohammed framed a recent deadly drone strike in Beirut, widely attributed to Israel, not merely as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty but as a direct "attack on the diplomatic process" that Qatar has been painstakingly mediating.
"When a key party in negotiations is targeted on foreign soil while we are exchanging proposals for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, it is not just an act of war—it is an attack on Doha itself and every nation seeking a peaceful resolution," the Prime Minister stated to a tense assembly that included leaders and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE.
His remarks referred to the killing of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in the Lebanese capital last week. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility, Israeli officials have publicly vowed to eliminate Hamas's leadership worldwide following the October 7th attacks.
The assassination has thrown the delicate, Qatari-brokered negotiations into jeopardy, with Hamas sources stating they have frozen all talks regarding a potential new hostage deal.
The emergency summit in the Saudi capital was called to formulate a unified Arab position amid fears that the Gaza war could ignite a wider regional conflagration. The sentiment expressed by Qatar's leader was echoed throughout the hall.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan opened the session by warning that the region was at a "critical and dangerous juncture."
"We are here today to unequivocally reject actions that drag our region into a wider, unwinnable war," Prince Faisal said. "The targeting of political figures, regardless of affiliation, outside the field of conflict serves only to pour fuel on the fire."
Qatar, which hosts a major U.S. military base as well as Hamas's political office, has walked a fine diplomatic tightrope for months. Its role as the primary intermediary between Israel and Hamas has been crucial in securing the only temporary truce and hostage exchange to date. Sheikh Mohammed's uncharacteristically sharp and public rebuke signals a deep frustration in Doha, suggesting that Qatari officials feel their position as an honest broker has been undermined.
Israeli officials have not responded directly to the Qatari premier's comments. However, a senior government source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reiterated Israel's position that it is "committed to dismantling the leadership and operational capabilities of Hamas, wherever they may be, to ensure that the atrocities of October 7th can never be repeated."
Analysts suggest the public assassination places Qatar in an almost impossible position. Continuing to mediate could be seen as ignoring a direct affront to its diplomatic efforts, while withdrawing would collapse the only viable communication channel for de-escalation and further hostage releases.
As the summit continues behind closed doors, the unified message from Arab leaders is one of grave concern. The final communique is expected to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and demand that the international community, particularly the United States, exert greater pressure on Israel to prevent further escalation. But with diplomatic channels now severely strained, the path back from the brink appears more uncertain than ever.