The practice of Arabic-Islamic summits has historically provided an important venue for coordination and unity among Member States of the League of Arab States and countries of the broader Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Since the organization’s first summit in 1964, and following the formation of the OIC in 1969, these summits have been instrumental in addressing regional disputes, enhancing cooperation in economic, cultural, political, and security matters, and producing injured statements of collective action to overcome threats and challenges facing the Muslim world. Previous summits, including the 2023 and 2024 extraordinary joint arab-islamic summits, discussed issues around the increasing tensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, humanitarian crises in Gaza, and regional security issues.
The series of extraordinary summits are constituted by the urgent plight of emerging geopolitical crises outside the scope of normal meetings. The 2023 summit was largely about the hostilities ongoing in Gaza, producing declarations that called for ceasefires and unity in defending Palestinian rights, the same for the 2024 summit which produced declarations citing norms for humanitarian advocacy and increased civilian casualties. The prior summits established expectations for urgent and rapid collective action or formal condemnation against acts seen as reckless against sovereignty and international law.
Background and context leading to the 2025 Summit
The 2025 Arab–Islamic extraordinary summit, held on September 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, was convened as an urgent response to a series of events that escalated regional tensions to a critical point. The immediate trigger was an Israeli airstrike on September 9, 2025, targeting a Hamas leadership meeting in Doha, which resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. This unprecedented strike inside Qatari territory, occurring amid ongoing U.S.-brokered ceasefire negotiations, was condemned by Qatar as a violation of national sovereignty and international law, characterizing the attack as “state terrorism.”
This intense escalation highlighted ruptures in the regional security framework and called into question the credibility of long-standing security partners like the U.S. As the U.S. was unable to stop Israeli incursions into Qatari airspace, the Gulf States started to rethink their diplomatic and defense frameworks and increasingly began contemplating alternative partnerships, including an eye toward greater cooperation with China and Turkey. The attack also shed light on the broader humanitarian and security crises originally brought about by Israel’s military onslaught of Gaza, the continuing expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, and forced displacement of Palestinians.
In this tense backdrop, Arab and Islamic states faced increasing pressure to confront a united response to what was seen as aggressive Israeli actions undermining peace and stability. It is in this context that Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called for the Doha summit to organize collective regional and global responses, demonstrate solidarity to Qatar, and discuss the geopolitical impact of both the Gaza conflict and Israeli policies.
Summit participation and declarations
The 2025 summit attracted an unprecedented gathering of over 50 leaders from Arab League countries and OIC member states, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the desire for unified action. Notable participants included Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. High-ranking delegates from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, also attended, demonstrating regional consensus despite differing geopolitical interests.
The summit commenced with comments from Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who criticized Israel’s actions as attempts to exert control over the Arab world, made Qatar a facilitator, and noted the situation had grown from conflict to genocide. Hissein Brahim Taha, the Secretary-General of OIC, called for strong collective action, and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, branded Israel as a rogue state, aided and abetted by global silence.
Several leaders suggested options made by Iraq’s Prime Minister for a NATO-like defense pact among the Arab and Islamic states, as well as creating an Arab and Islamic committee to determine and represent their position to the security council of the United Nations and international community. These suggestions indicate a movement toward formalizing collective security and diplomatic engagement for the purpose of regional stability.
The closing agreement from the summit condemned the Israeli airstrike against Qatar and pledged full support for the Qatar state. The agreement condemned the Israeli expansionist policies in Gaza and the West Bank, also defining them as ethnic cleansing, siege, and genocide, some of the reasons impeding regional peace and normalizing relations. The agreement referred to support among the member states to oppose these actions, while also demanding the international community hold Israel accountable.
Statements from Leaders and political implications
The summit was inaugurated by His Highness The Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who opened the gathering emphasizing the gravity of the situation with the words:
“The emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha today is a clear message in the face of Israeli state terrorism against our region. The outcomes will effectively contribute to intensifying our collective efforts and coordinating the positions and measures of our countries, unifying our voice and stance.”
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, present at the summit, highlighted regional solidarity and political coordination:
“We must stand united to confront aggression and expansionism, and our cooperation will forge a stronger, more secure future for all Arab and Islamic nations.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a strong warning and call for unity:
“Tomorrow, it could be the turn of any Arab or Islamic capital. The choice is clear—we must unite. It is possible that Islamic countries cut their ties with this fake regime and maintain unity and cohesion as much as possible. I hope this summit will reach a decisive conclusion to hold Israel accountable.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed practical steps to counter Israeli policies:
“The convening of the Arab-Islamic Summit sends an important message that Muslims around the world speak with one voice against Israel’s unlawful and reckless aggression. We should form a task force to firmly oppose Israeli aggression and expansionism, and coordinate politically and diplomatically within and outside international forums.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas underscored the humanitarian stakes and called for international action:
“We demand the immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the lifting of the siege. The Israeli occupation must end, and our people’s rights must be restored peacefully and justly according to international law.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi condemned Israeli actions as violations of international norms:
“Israel’s acts represent a breach of all diplomatic, military, and humanitarian laws and threaten the stability of the entire region. Such aggression cannot be tolerated and must be held accountable under international law.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the nature of the Israeli government’s policy:
“There is a bloodthirsty mentality driving the leadership in Israel, which has fuelled these attacks. The international community must hold them accountable for war crimes and violations of human rights.”
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, emphasized the summit’s unity and firm response:
“We call upon all OIC member states to uphold collective security and act swiftly to defend the sovereignty of our member nations. Silence in the face of violations only emboldens aggression, which we cannot allow to continue.”
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, highlighted the collective Arab-Islamic resilience:
“The Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha sent an unequivocal message: any attack on the State of Qatar is unacceptable to the Arab and Islamic nations as a whole. This gathering demonstrates our steadfastness and resolve to confront all threats against our sovereignty.”
Taken together, these remarks indicate the summit acknowledged the attacks as infringements of sovereignty and breaches of international law; urged member states to stand together; and reiterated a commitment to pursue accountability from Israel. Leaders demonstrated a strong political will to coordinate actions, defend regional interests, and strengthen solidarity with Qatar and the Palestinian cause. The rhetoric also suggested potential strategic developments, perhaps hinting at a conversation on diversifying alliances beyond customary friends.
The presentation of unity and solidarity among many diverse member states demonstrated a shared reassessment of traditional alliances, with particular doubt about the U.S. as a reliable security platform, especially given a perception of being interceded with Israel. Conversations regarding establishing partnerships with nations like China and Turkey even signaled a changing geopolitical environment in which regional actors sought to diversify diplomatic and defense relationships.
Those statements and coordinated collaboration in the proposals emphasized a time of transition in Arab-Islamic diplomacy that sought to shift regional security frameworks, increase diplomatic leverage, and step up political pressure on Israel to adhere to international conventions and humanitarian expectations.
Future prospects
The 2025 Arab–Islamic extraordinary summit in Doha represents a critical juncture for the Middle East and the Muslim world, reflecting mounting tensions and evolving geopolitical dynamics in response to Israeli actions in Qatar and Palestine. The historical lineage of Arab and Islamic summits provided a framework for rapid collective response, reinforcing how extraordinary circumstances demand unified political and diplomatic engagement among member states.
The summit highlighted major changes in the region’s relationship with traditional security partnerships, particularly with the United States, and, as a result, different areas of potential collaboration among Arab and Islamic countries may merit further consideration as a means to organize defense. The summit’s emphatic opposition to Israel and call for accountability is striking and could impact diplomatic and security processes at a global level in the foreseeable future.
Moving forward, the success of the resolutions will require ongoing collaboration, a commitment to implement the proposed mutual defense pacts, and ongoing engagement with international organizations, such as the UN. The establishment of Arab-Islamic committees and task forces, whose purpose is to coordinate international action, indicates a desire to continue the summit’s momentum beyond statements of solidarity.
The extraordinary summit also reiterated the importance of adherence to sovereignty and international law, especially to avoid further destabilization in the region. As membership states assess compliance and the humanitarian situation, this gathering will be remembered as a significant effort to consolidate the Muslim world’s political will in the face of a deepening crisis and conflict.
