Doha, September 15 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers highlighted on Monday the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit being held in Doha, with high-level participation and broad Arab and international media presence, emphasizing that this summit comes at a pivotal moment to unify ranks and coordinate positions in the face of continued Israeli arrogance and its blatant violations of international law and the sovereignty of states.

The newspapers noted that the summit represents a collective response to Israel’s recent attack targeting residential buildings of members of Hamas political bureau — an act widely condemned as cowardly and provocative, further escalating regional tensions.

In his opening remarks at the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani affirmed that the attack on the State of Qatar's sovereignty is a clear violation of international conventions and diplomatic and ethical norms. HE warned that such aggression undermines peace efforts and must not be met with silence or complacency.

Al-Watan said in an article by its editor-in-chief that today, the eyes of the world are turned toward the Qatari capital, Doha, anticipating the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, which is being held with high-level representation and a large presence of Arab and international media, with the aim of coordinating positions, unifying efforts, and responding to Israeli arrogance and its violation of international law and the sovereignty of states, following the treacherous and cowardly Israeli attack carried out last Tuesday by the Israeli occupation forces, targeting residential buildings of members of the political bureau of Hamas.

It added that the summit is described as historic and unprecedented, marking a strategic turning point for Arab unity. It faces serious and sensitive issues that demand decisive action, clear solutions, and bold decisions that will be accepted by the Arab public and respected internationally.

In this context, the paper referred to HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs's affirmation in his opening remarks that the attack on Qatar's sovereignty constitutes a clear violation of international conventions and diplomatic and ethical norms. HE stressed that Israel’s aggression will only undermine the negotiation process and that silence or complacency in the face of this brutal aggression is unacceptable.

In conclusion, Al-Watan emphasized that the nation faces a historic and decisive moment, and that hesitation and silence only encourage this entity to continue committing more crimes against the security and stability of our countries. Observers of the summit expect a serious and firm stance to prevent this entity from repeating its aggression—not only against Qatar but also from further targeting other countries in the region.

Meanwhile, Al-Sharq newspaper said that it is not new for Doha to host an Arab and Islamic summit; its history is rich with numerous Arab, Islamic, and Gulf summits that reflect the country’s standing regionally and internationally, and demonstrate its role as an effective mediator in regional issues.

The summit brings together Arab and Muslim leaders united in condemning Israeli barbarism and arrogance. It convenes amid the widest wave of solidarity extending from Arab and Islamic capitals to global decision-making capitals and international organizations, reaching the United Nations Security Council.

The summit follows the overwhelming vote by the UN General Assembly on a declaration setting out concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. This resolution received 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions. The UN General Assembly's decision provides an additional advantage upon which the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha relies.

The paper noted HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani's opening remarks during the preparatory Arab-Islamic ministerial meeting ahead of the summit, held yesterday, in which he said that ggression which targeted Qatari territory in broad daylight represents an act of arrogance and recklessness that violates the sovereignty of a member state of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League, as well as a mediator in the peace process. He affirmed that this aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens regional peace, security and stability, and undermines all efforts to achieve calm in the Middle East.

Al-Sharq concluded by saying that leaders have the opportunity to capitalize on global solidarity condemning the aggression to change Israel's aggressive behavior, which, through its attack on Doha, intended to tell the world that there are no red lines governing its act. Without a strong stance to deter Israel, it will continue to destabilize any country in the Arab and Islamic world and undermine any diplomatic efforts that conflict with its agenda. 

In its editorial, Al-Raya daily said that the summit being held in Doha today comes before the blood of the Qatari martyr — and other Palestinian martyrs — has even dried, following the treacherous Israeli attack. It is taking place amid an ongoing genocide, starvation, and siege of the Palestinian people in Gaza under the Israeli aggression.

In an article by its editor-in-chief, the newspaper explained that the people of the region look to the Doha summit as a platform to reaffirm solidarity with the State of Qatar in taking all necessary measures to protect its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens. The summit also presents an opportunity to unify the Arab position in order to halt the ongoing violations of Arab sovereignty, dignity, and security, and to put an end to the culture of impunity that has emboldened Israel to escalate its crimes — crimes that violate all international laws, norms, and even basic human behavior, it added. It also emphasized that Israeli aggression has reached intolerable levels, aiming to weaken sovereign states and reshape the regional order by force.

The newspaper called for decisive action in light of the critical circumstances the region is facing. It urged the adoption of a comprehensive strategy for Arab unity across political, economic, media, and military domains; an end to all forms of cooperation and coordination with the Israeli occupation; a halt to commercial dealings; a ban on the use of Arab airspace by Israeli aircraft; and the establishment of deterrent military mechanisms to confront the ongoing Israeli aggression — driven by expansionist ambitions and settlement plans that pose a threat to all regional powers.

In conclusion, Al-Raya reaffirmed that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, has always been — and continues to be — a refuge for the oppressed, a capital of peace, and a trusted mediator in efforts to promote global security and stability. Qatar has placed the Palestinian cause at the forefront of its foreign policy priorities and constants. In doing so, it has faced numerous smear campaigns aimed at undermining its mediation efforts, conducted jointly with Egypt and the United States, to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The Israeli attack on Doha came at a moment when negotiations had reached an advanced stage — a move that reflects Israel's deliberate targeting of diplomacy itself, in a dangerous precedent that violates the principle of national sovereignty.

In turn, Al-Arab affirmed that the preparatory ministerial meeting for the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit held in Doha on Sunday delivered a clear message of full solidarity with the State of Qatar in the face of the cowardly and brutal attack carried out by Israeli occupation forces last week.

The paper noted that around 50 ministers and officials representing the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated in discussions on the draft final communique of the summit, which addresses the Israeli aggression against Qatar.

The editorial said that the emergency summit is taking place amid heightened regional tensions resulting from the Israeli attack on Doha, coupled with widespread public outrage across the Arab and Islamic worlds — as well as in many other countries — over Israel’s long record of crimes.

The newspaper emphasized that this summit, at its core, represents a test of the Arab-Islamic system’s ability to transform its collective stance rejecting Israeli arrogance into real-world decisions, concrete actions, and urgent mechanisms. These are needed not only to hold Israel accountable, but also to end the aggressive war and massacres in Gaza, lift the siege, and implement the resolutions of the Riyadh Arab-Islamic Summit (November 2023), which called for the immediate breaking of the siege and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Al-Arab concluded by stressing that the people of the Arab and Islamic nations believe it is time to move beyond statements of condemnation to actionable measures — especially in light of the current security and political threats. What enables Israel to continue its aggressive policies, the paper argued, is the failure to hold it accountable. Only concrete actions — not statements alone — can deter this criminal entity from persisting in its violations of all international and humanitarian laws and norms.

English-language newspaper The Peninsula said that the Foreign Ministers of Arab and Islamic countries began a closed-door meeting in Doha yesterday to prepare for an emergency summit to address the situation arising from Israeli airstrikes on Doha.

The paper noted that HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani addressing the preparatory meeting said that Israel's transgression of international law, human principles, and diplomatic norms, was manifested in the barbaric attack and that this attack can only be described as state terrorism. The reckless and treacherous Israeli aggression was committed while Qatar was hosting official, public negotiations.

What happened was not just the targeting of a location, but an attack on the principle of mediation itself and on all that diplomacy provides in alternatives to war, the paper added.

It also pointed out that the summit will discuss the repercussions of the situation and the steps that must be taken to halt the slide in the region due to the aggressive behaviour of the Israeli entity. It is also expected to support Qatar in any measures it takes to preserve and defend its sovereignty. (QNA)