On Monday, an extraordinary gathering of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was held in Dosze, convened urgently after an Israeli rocket attack in Qatar.
This event sparked a decisive reaction from the leaders of the region, who unanimously condemned Israel's actions in the final statement, identifying them as an unprecedented violation of state sovereignty and a threat to the stableness of the full mediate East.
"Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council powerfully condemn Israel's aggression against the Qatar State, recognising it as a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and global law," says the authoritative GCC Final Communication
The message besides explicitly recalls the key rule guiding the existence of the Council: the joint defence of members is inviolable and the safety of each State is simply a substance of the full organisation.
"The attack on any associate State of the Council shall be treated as an attack on all associate States. We will jointly and severally take all essential measures to defend Qatar, its inhabitants and its territorial integrity" — stressed the statement
Emir Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, pointed out that the attack was not accidental or simply military in character. His opinion besides aimed at the reputation and function of Qatar as a country active in peaceful mediation.
"What happened in our territory is not just a rocket attack. It is an effort to undermine Qatar's independence, its position in the region and its function as a peace mediator," said the emir at the beginning of an extraordinary session
The leaders of the GCC decided to convene the Defence Council and the Higher Military Commission. They want to analyse possible threats and prepare a common consequence strategy. There have been no concrete announcements of armed action, but the speech of the message clearly indicates that the countries of the region do not want to be confined to symbolic gestures.
"International society has a work to defend the principles of global law and guarantee that Israel bears the consequences of its actions. deficiency of consequence will encourage further violations and deepening regional chaos" — warned in the document
The message combines the attack on Qatar with the conflict in Gaza, where Qatar played an crucial mediation role. According to the version presented by the GCC, the attack may have been intended to disrupt negotiations on the truce and release of hostages.
"It cannot be excluded that the Israeli attack was an effort to sabotage Qatar's diplomatic efforts to conclude a truce and humanitarian support for the Palestinian people," noted the analysis in the final part of the statement
Reactions from the arabian and Muslim worlds were fast and clear. The president of Algeria described the attack as “a calf aimed at the full arabian community”, and King Abdullah II of Jordan warned that specified action “may trigger irreversible escalation throughout the region”. A akin position was adopted by the Organisation for muslim Cooperation, which called for a "common and firm political response".
The UN besides reacted almost immediately. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep concern and appealed to the parties for restraint.
"I am profoundly afraid about the escalation of tensions. I call on all parties to exercise restraint and respect for global law"
“Guterres said at a press conference in fresh York City
In the GCC statement, there was besides a clear expression of appreciation for the Qatari emergency services, which rapidly reacted to the attack and reduced the number of victims.
"We full support Qatar and recognise the fast and efficient consequence of the authorities that prevented further victims and minimised the effects of aggression," added the document
Political implications for Israeli-Arab relations may be serious. Even recently, economical and diplomatic relations between Israel and any GCC countries, specified as the United arabian Emirates and Bahrain, have been discussed. After the attack on Qatar, the atmosphere changed dramatically.
"If Israel attacks a country that has been acting as an intermediary and associate in peace talks for years, it means that it no longer cares about diplomatic solutions," commented anonymously 1 of the UAE officials quoted by regional media
The U.S. consequence was expected with large tension. The State Department has limited itself to the phrase "the request for deescalation and respect for global law". The deficiency of firm condemnation was met with a cold reception in many Gulf capitals. Signals from Riyadh and Kuwait show increasing frustration with Washington's "balance" policy.
The full ends with a symbolic message spoken by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, president of the United arabian Emirates. His words summarize not only the spirit of the statement, but besides the attitude of the full region in the face of danger.
“If we do not stand together to defend 1 of us, next day each of us can become a target”
— said Mohammed bin Zayed during the closing of the meeting
The attack on Qatar and the GCC consequence represent a turning point not only in current regional policy but besides in a wider global order. If Western states ignore the signal sent by Gulf leaders, this could mean permanent weakening of collective safety mechanisms and further destabilisation of the mediate East. The GCC declaration is so not just a reaction to the attack — it is simply a test whether the principles of sovereignty and global law are inactive of real importance in the 21st century political practice.
