An Arab political “pilgrimage” to Doha is underway. Arab and Gulf leaders are flocking to the Qatari capital in a demonstration of solidarity and support. And how could they not? The event is unprecedented: the criminal Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in the very heart of the Arab mediation capital. What comes after such an attack should not, and cannot, resemble what came before.
This surge of leaders toward Doha was preceded by waves of outrage and condemnation—statements denouncing the aggression, warning of its consequences, and alerting the world to its gravity. This reaction is natural, given that Israeli recklessness has reached unprecedented levels, unchecked by either moral restraint or international law. Israeli “messages of fire” now know no limits, sparing no capital, signaling a new era of savagery and hysterical hegemony.
Public Anger and Official Responses
Amid a flood of public anger and a transnational sense of humiliation and degradation caused by Israel’s growing brutality and arrogance of power, Arab governments were compelled to act. They moved not out of strategic foresight, but to calm the enraged public squares—squares that may appear silent on the surface but are seething beneath with fury and grief over the fate of the nation.
This anger has translated into persistent questions across the Arab world: Why the weakness? Why the humiliation? Why the passive stance of Arab regimes after two years of genocidal war in Gaza, extending into the West Bank, spilling over into Beirut and Damascus, striking Yemen, and even reaching Tunisia’s ports, where peace activists from over 50 countries were harassed for demanding an end to the blockade and starvation in Gaza?
Israel’s Escalating Pattern of Aggression
In Arab collective memory, this attack on Doha is not Israel’s first crime. Before this, Tel Aviv assassinated Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, targeted Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, wiped out senior Hezbollah leaders, and even killed Yemen’s prime minister and his cabinet in Sanaa. What makes Doha different is that the target this time is a founding member of the GCC, an active Arab League player, and a respected mediator on the world stage.
Israel’s assault in Doha therefore represents a new peak: a blatant display of arrogance, contempt for international norms, and disregard for Arab sovereignty.
Beyond Condemnation: Arabs Are Not Powerless
For two years, Arab leaders have clung to the empty language of “strongly worded condemnations.” These statements brought no relief and shielded no one. The time has come for something different. Contrary to the narrative of helplessness, Arabs are not devoid of tools of influence.
Diplomatic, legal, and economic levers are available. If activated, they could make Israeli leaders—and their patrons in Washington and Europe—think twice. For example:
- When Israel attempted to assassinate Khaled Meshaal in Amman in 1997, King Hussein of Jordan put the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty on the line. Israel was forced to provide the antidote to save Meshaal’s life, and in return Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Hamas’s spiritual leader, was released from prison. One Arab state made a difference. What if several states acted in concert?
- Recently, Israeli media leaked that the UAE warned Netanyahu that the Abraham Accords could collapse if Israel annexed parts of the West Bank. This alone delayed annexation. Imagine if six or seven Arab states issued a similar warning today.
Would Israel ignore them? Not entirely. Israel shrugs off Arab condemnations precisely because they are verbal only, never backed by concrete measures. If embassies were shut, ambassadors expelled, trade suspended, and air and sea routes closed, Israel’s calculus would change dramatically.
The U.S. Factor
Beyond Israel, we must consider Washington’s reaction, especially under an administration deeply invested in the “Abraham Accords.” If Arab capitals conveyed that Israel’s behavior threatened the survival of this normalization project, Washington would take notice. An “Arab firmness” that undermines Trump’s crowning foreign policy achievement would shake not just Tel Aviv, but also Washington’s global posture.
International Legal Front
Another possible path is to pursue Israel through international courts—the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and even domestic courts in various countries under universal jurisdiction. If pursued seriously, this would make Israeli officials pariahs, unable to travel freely, confined to a self-imposed “ghetto of walls and barbed wire.”
The Arab Choice: Action or Irrelevance
Arabs still hold many cards—short of military confrontation, but far above passive submission. The problem lies not in capacity but in will and unity. If a few leading Arab states moved decisively, the rest would follow. There is no need to wait for all 22 Arab states to agree. A coalition of the willing could set the tone.
The question is: Will this time be different?
A Critical Moment
The attack on Doha and the assassination of Hamas leaders have opened a window of opportunity for a new Arab position—stronger, more effective, more credible. Yet such opportunities rarely last long. Arab regimes are known for their short memories and lack of strategic patience. Too often they rise in outrage, only to retreat into silence.
Still, hope persists. The fire now spreads from one Arab country to another. To ignore it would be reckless. As the old saying goes: “I was devoured the day the white bull was eaten.” If Arab leaders fail again, they risk facing not only Israel’s unchecked aggression but also the inevitable eruption of public fury, demanding dignity and justice.
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If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
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