It is a welcome move that Arab and Muslim countries, including Bangladesh, finally sat for a summit in Doha in response to the last week’s Israeli bombing of the Qatar capital and continued genocide in Gaza. Leaders of Muslim nations across the world have expressed their solidarity with Qatar and condemned the Israeli attack. This is for the first time that Muslim nations came closer to raise their voice against Israeli aggression. It is seen as a warning message from the Muslim countries against the Israel’s brutality and barbarism.
The extraordinary joint session between the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic countries (OIC) brought together around 60 member states at the emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday. The meeting marked a critical moment to deliver a united message following unprecedented escalation of genocide by Israel.
Qatai Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in his opening speech has warned against Israel’s expansionist vision of the Arab region, lambasting the country for the ‘treacherous and cowardly attack’ on Doha.
“The capital of my country was subjected to a treacherous attack targeting a residence housing the families of Hamas leaders and their negotiating delegation. “We are determined to do whatever is necessary to preserve our sovereignty and confront Israeli aggression,” he added.
Doha, a close US ally that hosts the largest United States military base in the region, came under Israeli attack on September 9. The strike targeted Hamas leaders gathered to discuss a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal.
Bangladesh has also extended strong support for Qatar and Palestine, condemning the Israel's attack on Doha as a blatant violation of international law and called for coordinated diplomatic, political, and economic measures by all OIC member states to deter further Israeli provocation and atrocities.
Speaking at the summit, Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh Md Touhid Hossain said the "unprovoked and unjustifiable" attack is not merely an attack on Qatar but rather "an affront to the dignity of the entire Muslim Ummah." Bangladesh views this aggression as part of a ‘reckless adventure’ by Israel which continues to disregard the UN Charter, international law and repeated UN resolutions, he added.
OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit delivered welcome address and referred to the charter objectives of respective organisations in upholding collective peace and security of the Muslim ummah.
The Arab and Muslim leaders in strongest words condemned the Israeli attack on Qatar on September 9 and vowed all-out support for the safety, security and dignity of the Muslim nations. They also called for an immediate end to Israeli occupation of Gaza and establishment of a Palestinian state following the two-state formula with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
We strongly believe that strong unity of the Muslim countries can put an end to the barbaric Israeli aggression of Gaza City in Palestine and ensure lasting peace in the oil-rich Middle East region.
