����ֱ��

Israel’s airstrike targeting Hamas officials in Doha last week sparked outrage from Arab and Islamic states, highlighting how fragile stability in the region remains. Long seen as a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Qatar now finds its role under strain. The attack not only challenges Doha’s position as a diplomatic bridge but also highlights the urgent need for Arab states to rethink their strategies and deepen cooperation as tensions rise.

On Monday, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation brought together nearly 60 member states in a rare joint session to send a united message against what they described as an “unprecedented escalation” by Israel. The Gulf Cooperation Council went further and pledged to activate its joint defense mechanism, a pact which states that an attack on any one of its six members is an attack on all.

Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging the Gaza ceasefire talks. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani urged action to hold Israel accountable, a sentiment that is resonating widely across the Arab world.

The events in Doha mark a potential diplomatic turning point for the region. The attack shows that mediators may face greater risks, as even Doha — a central hub for truce talks throughout the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza — has been targeted. This development raises urgent questions about the role and security of Arab mediators in regional peace efforts.

Undeterred by Israel’s threats, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry made clear that it will not be deterred from pursuing mediation

Zaid M. Belbagi

Mediation has long been at the heart of Qatar’s foreign policy. Doha has played a role in peace efforts in various conflicts, from facilitating peace discussions in Congo to leading initiatives that reunited Ukrainian children with their families and hosting Afghan peace and humanitarian negotiations with the Taliban. Qatar also helped broker a deal between Iran and Israel that ended their 12-day war in June and which has held since.

This record underscores Doha’s importance as a mediator — a role it has sought to play in efforts to end the war in Gaza. Recognizing this, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to Doha on Tuesday to encourage Qatar to remain engaged in the negotiations. The visit also advanced talks on a new defense cooperation agreement — a strong signal of Washington’s intent to reassure Qatar, both a key partner in Gaza ceasefire efforts and host to the region’s largest US base, of its security guarantees even as Israel threatens further action against the Hamas leadership abroad.

Undeterred by these threats, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry made clear that it will not be deterred from pursuing mediation and de-escalation. In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warnings that strikes would persist until Hamas is defeated, Doha pledged to work more closely with international partners to pursue war crimes accountability and to counter incitement to genocide.

Despite Qatar’s insistence that it will not be deterred, recent events highlight the need for mediation to be embedded within a broader, multiparty framework. At the same time, the strike has undermined trust and Qatar may now seek stronger assurances from the US to respect its neutrality and guarantee the safety of ongoing negotiations, particularly as the decision to host Hamas’ leadership in Doha was made at Washington’s request.

If neutral negotiating venues are now legitimate targets, the fundamental framework of conflict resolution is undermined

Zaid M. Belbagi

The attack also sets a dangerous precedent for mediation more broadly. If neutral negotiating venues are now considered legitimate targets, the fundamental framework of conflict resolution is undermined. For other mediators in the region, particularly the UAE, ����ֱ�� and Egypt, which have also championed talks on the Palestinian conflict, the strike on Doha is a clear sign that security arrangements must be diversified and strengthened. That could mean reinforcing collective defense capabilities or pursuing broader security partnerships with powers such as China, Russia and Turkiye.

Some Gulf states are already deepening their cooperation with Beijing and Moscow, whose economic and military footprints in the region continue to grow. Kuwait and the UAE’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is one of the markers of this shift.

Turkiye, too, is emerging as a strategic partner. At Monday’s emergency summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared his “unwavering support” for Qatar, and he has taken on a more active role in shaping an Arab defense framework. The rapid growth of the defense industries in ����ֱ�� and the UAE, strengthened through industrial cooperation with Turkiye and bolstered by Sino-Arab partnerships, has the potential to provide the strategic edge once guaranteed by American weaponry and defense systems.

The Doha strike has sharpened awareness that mediators and diplomatic venues are now vulnerable, forcing a fundamental strategic rethink. For Arab states, this moment may trigger a shift toward greater strategic autonomy and more diversified alliances. Arab and Islamic leaders have already called for collective action, both diplomatically and in security, emphasizing the need to pursue action through international bodies rather than relying on fragmented, individual efforts.

Looking ahead, mediation will likely become more cautious and calculated, given the risks neutral negotiating venues now face, creating a potential crisis for future conflict resolution. Yet it remains vital, particularly for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Qatar’s role is expected to continue, though other players in the region may adopt a more measured, multilateral approach, embedding their efforts within international frameworks and collective diplomatic channels.

• Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council. X: @Moulay_Zaid