WANA (Sep 15) – The emergency joint meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League convenes today (Monday) in Doha, following last week’s Israeli attack on Qatar. Expectations were high that this summit might mark a turning point in Arab and Islamic positions.

 

However, according to a report by Al Mayadeen, the draft final communiqué largely reiterates condemnations without outlining any tangible measures.

 

The draft describes the recent attacks on Qatar as a “serious threat to regional stability” and an obstacle to efforts aimed at halting the war in Gaza. It also strongly denounces what it calls “acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip” as well as ongoing settlement expansion in the West Bank, warning that such developments could unravel the entire normalization process.

 

The statement reaffirms support for mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, while warning against unilateral moves to impose new realities on the ground or annex Palestinian territories. It further notes that “a lasting peace in the Middle East will only be achieved when the rights of the Palestinian people are fully guaranteed, with the Arab Peace Initiative serving as the main framework.”

WANA - Iran and Qatar FM

Meanwhile, Palestinian resistance groups on Sunday warned that “the historic and human responsibility of Arab and Muslim leaders requires them to adopt positions that go beyond statements and rise to the level of unified, practical action.” They called for activating the joint defense pact, leveraging oil as a tool, imposing comprehensive Arab sanctions against Israel, and immediately pursuing international measures to isolate the country.

 

Hamas, in a separate statement, described the Doha summit as “a historic opportunity for Islamic unity against Israeli aggression,” urging political and economic boycotts, the severance of all relations with Israel, legal action in international courts, and an immediate halt to the war in Gaza.

 

In parallel, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Muslim nations should form a “military, political, and economic alliance” to safeguard the security of their people.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy on Syrian affairs, Tom Barrack. Social Media / WANA News Agency

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy on Syrian affairs, Tom Barrack. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Coinciding with the summit, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy on Syrian affairs, Tom Barrack, arrived in Doha and held a trilateral meeting with Assad al-Shaybani, foreign minister of the Julani administration, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Reports indicate that he traveled to Qatar to take part in side discussions on the margins of the summit.