An Israeli military strike in Qatar has been widely interpreted as a red line crossed, prompting the Arab world to unite at an emergency summit in Doha to define the acceptable limits of Israeli action. The collective message is that military operations on the sovereign soil of Arab nations are unequivocally out of bounds.
For years, the region has witnessed Israeli strikes in various countries, but the attack on a stable, U.S.-allied Gulf state has triggered a qualitatively different response. It is seen as a dangerous escalation that sets a precedent no Arab leader is willing to accept, fearing it could be their country next.
The summit is a forum to establish and enforce this red line. The draft resolution being discussed is not merely a condemnation but a declaration of principle: that the security and territorial integrity of every state in the region are sacrosanct. This is a direct challenge to Israel’s long-standing doctrine of pre-emptive and extra-territorial military action.
The involvement of Abraham Accords signatories like the UAE is crucial to this effort. Their participation signals to Israel that even its new partners will not tolerate such breaches of sovereignty. The Doha summit is therefore a pivotal moment where the region is collectively pushing back and attempting to impose new rules of engagement on Israel.