 "Perhaps Netanyahu counted too much on the fact that the hatred of most Arabs against Iran-backed Hamas would allow Israelis to act as they pleased. (Photo: Gali Tibbon/Reuters)")
Although there has been no love lost between Israel and Qatar, Doha has been steadily engaged as a credible interlocutor and host of talks between Tel Aviv and Hamas along with Cairo and Washington. It has been quite clear from the beginning that the sole objective of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, since the October 7 terror attacks, has been not only to destroy Hamas but also to occupy Gaza and make it a ‘Zone D’ with real control.
This has been the playbook all along. Not that Hamas has been at all serious since both sides kept shifting the goalposts. Any ceasefire deal could bring in the end of political support by the ultra-rightists Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, exposing Netanyahu to the impending legal challenges, both domestic and international. But Bibi wants to stay afloat at any cost. Political immunity remains very dear, especially in the wake of corruption charges at home and war crime charges by the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court and the international furore.
In his extraneous approaches, by hitting at will all his adversaries amid the hunger crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu has alienated and engineered diplomatic isolation for Israel. The attack on Hamas leaders, the ceasefire negotiating team, in Doha—a close non-Nato ally of the US with the largest US military base—was the last straw to galvanise anti-Israel regional and global opinion while endangering US security calculations and interests while decimating its credibility in the region as a net security provider. Even its closest Abraham Accord partner, the UAE, was forced to redraw its redlines, including against the proposed annexation of the West Bank by Israel.
Hamas did not spring up and remained a governing entity in Gaza on its own. Several Israeli commentators have written at length about the close and sustained support by Israeli leadership, including Netanyahu, to Hamas so that Palestinian unity stayed fractured. Even President Isaac Herzog is on record appreciating the help of Qatar in resolving some issues with Hamas during the last crisis.
This week’s strikes in Doha to target Hamas leadership, whose office in Doha was agreed to by the US and Israel, were simply stupid, as they not only violated Qatari sovereignty but also put the US, its all-weather ally, in major difficulty with the regional actors. For the Qataris a key gaping question is why the US forces failed to stop the aggression. And if they are incapable and complicit, what is the use of hosting the American base?
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt appears that the warning from the US was too late and came as the strikes were on. This is the second time Qatar has faced this after the Iranian (allegedly pre-agreed) strikes on the US base in June. Perhaps Netanyahu counted too much on the fact that the hatred of most Arabs against Iran-backed Hamas would allow Israelis to act as they pleased. But this time round the Qataris and, by default, other Arab and Islamic countries are showing exceptional unity to confront Israel directly and the US as well.
No wonder President Donald Trump, despite his carte blanche to Netanyahu, was highly miffed and upset with him, as has been reported by several outlets. Moreover, as he tried to assure the Qataris that there will be no more such adventurism by Israel, Netanyahu left his option to strike again open, like this ‘Summit of Fire’ action. He warned Qatar and others to expel or prosecute terrorists “or we will”, adding that countries condemning Israel “should be ashamed”. Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter claimed, “If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll next time,” dismissing criticism and signalling continued Israeli military intent.
Egypt has also issued a direct warning to Israel against any attempt to target Palestinian leaders present in Egypt. Egyptian intelligence reportedly has concrete information that Israel is planning to strike Palestinian resistance leaders who have been living under Egyptian protection for years.
The Qatari PM called it ‘State Terrorism’ by Netanyahu. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) promised to deploy all his military assets to protect Qatar, as the Qataris have requested the Turkish and Pakistani air forces to train their pilots. He also said that Israel has killed all hopes for the release of hostages as Qatar stopped its mediation efforts. Turkey also has a military base in Doha and has been warning Israel consistently and cut off ties with it in view of Gaza operations. This aggression against Doha has the significant potential to crystallise anti-Israel forces as an expression of solidarity and to convert into some real outcomes.
As the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, including Turkey and Pakistan, meet in Doha, the current non-permanent members of the UN Security Council—Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia—called for an emergency session, and hopefully there will be a resolution passed, and the US might abstain unless some precipitate action is proposed. Iran, which had to apologise for its own violation of Qatar recently, urged the Muslim world to unite against Israel’s actions after airstrikes on Qatar, calling for a decisive response to what it terms reckless behaviour.
On the face of it, given the general hypocritical approach, it looks unlikely that US support for Israel will wane in any way; hence, chances for further conflagration have become real, with non-state actors taking the lead.
There is also a very big question for the Arab world, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council, as to what kind of and how effective and responsive security architecture they are looking for as the global condemnation of the violation of Qatari sovereignty continues. Or it will be as Iraqi politician Faiq al-Sheikh Ali commented on, X: “Let’s be clear. No country in the region has the power to challenge Israel. All the threats and posturing are empty talk. Condemnation is all anyone can do. Israel’s reach is vast, and it has made up its mind to dismantle militant political Islam in the region, and it will succeed.” Meanwhile, the Qatari Amir has assured his people that “Qatar will take all measures necessary to protect its security and sovereignty”.
Given their close and strategic partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Sheikh Tamim to express his deep concerns over the strikes and for regional stability as he strongly condemned the Israeli strikes and violation of Qatari sovereignty while urging for dialogue and diplomacy and the need to avoid escalation. “The PM expressed deep concern over the attacks in Doha and condemned the violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar. He appreciated the role being played by Qatar in promoting regional peace and stability, including its mediation efforts in Gaza to achieve a ceasefire and release of all hostages.”
This is perhaps the strongest Indian reaction in decades against Israel, which speaks for itself.
The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.