THE Muslim Ummah is seething with resentment over Israel’s unrelenting belligerence.
The recent deadly Israeli strike in Doha targeting Hamas officials discussing a ceasefire proposal has shocked the region and escalated tensions to an unprecedented level.
In response, an emergency joint summit of the Arab League and OIC in Doha, brought together nearly 60 countries to forge a unified front in the face of growing Israeli aggression. The joint statement issued at the summit urged all member states to take “all possible legal and effective measures” to halt Israel’s continued violence against Palestinians. Crucially, it recommended the review of diplomatic and economic relations with Israel. Furthermore, it encouraged a coordinated campaign to suspend Israel’s membership in the United Nations. Yet, the effectiveness of this summit will be judged not by the strength of its words but by the resolve of its actions. The time for empty rhetoric has long passed. If Israel’s aggression is to be meaningfully countered, then countries with existing diplomatic or economic ties with Tel Aviv must sever them immediately. Israel’s recent actions are not isolated incidents; they represent a broader strategy of destabilization, with total disregard for international norms and regional peace. The peace and security of the entire region is at stake. For Gulf nations and the broader Muslim world, the choice is clear: rise collectively to defend their sovereignty, dignity and the sanctity of the Palestinian cause. The continued overreliance on the United States for defence and security has proven to be not only shortsighted but dangerous. The US has made it abundantly clear through its unwavering support for Israel that its interests are not aligned with those of its supposed Gulf allies. The Arab world must chart an independent course, free from the shackles of dependency on the US. It is time for the Gulf countries to seek meaningful defence and security collaboration with other reliable partners including Pakistan, Turkiye and China. Such alliances will not only strengthen the collective security of Muslim nations but also send an unmistakable message to Israel: your actions have consequences. The Doha attack should be a turning point. It has exposed the illusion of safety under American protection and the futility of normalization with a state that respects no boundaries, no ceasefires and no peace.
