- By: Dr. Muhammad Tayyab Khan Singhanvi (Ph.D)
The emergency Arab Islamic summit convened in Doha was far more than a ceremonial gathering; it inaugurated a new chapter in the political and military landscape of the Middle East. The directives of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Supreme Council, the stern declarations of member states, and the collective condemnation of Israeli actions mark a milestone for the region whose impact will extend beyond the current confrontation to shape future strategic policies.
- Historical background and the Palestinian question:
The Palestinian issue has remained the most intractable and persistent crisis of international politics for more than seven decades. With the establishment of Israel in 1948, the dispossession and displacement of the Palestinian people began. In the 1967 war Israel seized East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, deepening the crisis. United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338 articulated the principle of “land for peace,” yet Israel’s policies and the steady expansion of settlements largely rendered those resolutions a paper promise.
The 1973 conflict referred to in the Arab world as the October War and by Israel as the Yom Kippur War underscored that the Palestinian question is not merely a territorial dispute but a test of Arab dignity and the balance of power among global actors. The combined Arab offensive by Egypt and Syria inflicted a temporary shock on Israel, but ultimately direct U.S. intervention restored Israeli military advantage. That war ultimately paved the way for the Camp David Accords of 1978, in which Egypt recognized Israel and recovered lost territory, while the Palestinian problem remained unresolved.
The 1991 Gulf War and the ensuing Madrid peace conference seemed to create a new opening. That process produced the 1993 Oslo Accords, in which the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel reached a formal agreement in principle on a two-state solution. Yet this agreement also proved largely illusory as Israel continued settlement expansion and retained effective control over Palestinian territories, deepening the Palestinians’ crisis of confidence.
After 2020, the Abraham Accords introduced yet another shift diplomatic normalization between Israel and several Arab states. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan established relations with Israel. While these agreements offered economic and strategic benefits, they were widely opposed within Palestinian communities and across much of Arab public opinion. Against this background, if Israel has indeed struck the capital of an Arab state, such an action would shatter the entire edifice of normalization.
- The significance of the Doha summit:
Participants at the Doha summit explicitly condemned Israeli actions as not merely acts of aggression but threats to regional security. These statements are not mere rhetoric; they reflect a shared realization that if the Arab world remains silent, no state in the region will be secure. This is a juncture at which the Arab and Islamic worlds must decide whether to remain limited to declarations or to translate rhetoric into concrete action.
- Legal and diplomatic complexities:
Under the UN Charter, suspension or termination of a member state’s status is a matter for the General Assembly, typically requiring a recommendation from the Security Council. The politics of the permanent members (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France) and their veto powers are decisive. Practical sanctions against Israel or suspension of its standing would require a fundamental shift in the policies of those great powers an outcome that currently appears unlikely.
Consequently, Arab and Muslim states have alternative routes available:
- Secure an effective majority in the General Assembly under the “Uniting for Peace” resolution.
- Lodge formal cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
- Coordinate and intensify economic and diplomatic boycott measures.
These steps may have limited immediate effect, but through legal pressure and global public opinion they can place Israel on the defensive.
- Military alliance or diplomatic pressure?
The Defense Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s signal that it could establish a joint deterrent force sends a strong message, but there are significant practical obstacles. Each state has distinct internal priorities, some remain heavily integrated into U.S. security networks, while others prioritize strategic rivalry with Iran. Under present circumstances, the formation of a direct military alliance against Israel appears difficult.
- A prudent course would therefore include:
- Establishing a legal commission to document Israeli attacks and violations according to international standards.
- Coordinating diplomatic pressure to portray Israel as the party on the defensive in forums such as the General Assembly and the European Union.
- Implementing practical measures for humanitarian aid and ceasefire facilitation so the international community recognizes that Arab and Muslim states prioritize peace and human welfare, not conflict.
- Utilizing public diplomacy and media narratives to expose double standards and sustain global awareness.
- Pakistan’s role:
For Pakistan, this situation demands a delicate balancing act. On one hand, there are deep religious and historical ties with Qatar and other Arab nations; on the other, Pakistan maintains substantial economic and strategic relations with the United States, China, and Gulf states. Pakistan should:
- Conduct active diplomacy within the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
- Advocate humanitarian assistance and push for an immediate ceasefire.
- Avoid precipitous military engagement and prioritize diplomacy.
Such a stance would not only uphold Pakistan’s moral standing within the Muslim world but also reinforce its image as a responsible actor in the international community.
The Doha summit is not merely a temporary reaction but a turning point. From here, the Arab world faces a choice:
Either it adopts strategies grounded in law, justice, and diplomacy that can foster regional peace and enhance its international standing, or it pursues emotive and military responses that risk plunging the region into a far broader war.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that the Palestinian question is not only a Middle Eastern problem but also a test of global justice, human rights, and international law. What is required now is insight, restraint, and coordinated strategy, otherwise, this milestone will be remembered as another missed opportunity.