Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Qatar today to attend an emergency Arab-Islamic Summit convened in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Doha and the deepening crisis in Palestine.
The summit, hosted under the umbrella of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), brings together leaders and senior representatives from across the Muslim world in a collective call for justice and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting has been convened in response to Israel’s escalating aggression — including strikes on Qatar, the ongoing occupation of Gaza, settlement expansion in the West Bank, and the forced displacement of Palestinians.Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has already participated in a preparatory session of OIC foreign ministers in Doha, where a draft resolution condemning Israel’s actions was finalized.
Qatar’s humanitarian appeal
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, ahead of the summit, called on the international community to end double standards and hold Israel accountable for what he described as “crimes against humanity.”
He stressed: “Israel should know that its genocidal war against our Palestinian brothers and sisters, aimed at uprooting them from their homeland, will never succeed.”
Global solidarity
More than 50 OIC member states are expected to attend the summit, including influential leaders such as Iranian President Masoud Pazishkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has already arrived in Doha, underscoring the gravity of the moment.
While Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s attendance remains unconfirmed, the summit is widely seen as a powerful symbol of Arab and Islamic unity, particularly from Gulf states many of whom are under international pressure due to their ties with the West.
Draft resolution
Diplomats indicate that the draft resolution under review denounces Israel’s assault on Qatar as a “dangerous escalation” and firmly rejects attempts to alter the region’s demographic and political realities.
However, the resolution currently avoids direct sanctions, leaving open the possibility of stronger measures as discussions progress.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit reaffirmed the collective stance: “Qatar is not alone. Arab and Islamic nations stand shoulder to shoulder with it, and with Palestine.”
