KEY POINTS
- PM Sharif condemns Israel’s strike on Qatar
- Calls it flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and deliberate attempt to derail peace efforts
- Urges international community to take swift, concrete steps to stop war crimes in Gaza
- Calls to hold Israel accountable for war crimes
- Suggests suspending Israel’s membership in the UN
- Reiterates Pakistan’s demand for a two-state solution
DOHA, Qatar: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday proposed the creation of an Arab-Islamic task force to counter Israeli “aggression and expansionism,” as leaders gathered in Doha under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to respond to Israel’s recent strikes on Qatar.
The high-level summit is being held under the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with participation from leaders and representatives of nearly 50 countries.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Shehbaz condemned the attack on Doha, calling it a blatant act by an “aggressor who openly violates international law.” He stressed that the strike was a deliberate attempt to derail peace efforts in the Middle East and reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the action.
“This is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar, and we express our solidarity with our brothers: the Qataris. The Israeli attack on Qatar is not apart from the other attacks; it is hegemonic ambition on the part of Israel to control the whole region, and the role of mediators is always considered to be sacred, and they are the hope of peace.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza during the Arab-Islamic Summit on Monday, urging the international community to take immediate and decisive action.
براہِ راست: وزیراعظم کا قطر کے دارالحکومت دوحہ میں منعقدہ عرب اسلامک سمٹ کی کارروائی سےخطاب https://t.co/MXRI87Rnxx
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 15, 2025
He said that while Qatar is working to promote regional peace, the people of Gaza—particularly women and children—are facing a humanitarian catastrophe. “The world is witnessing a massacre in Gaza,” the Prime Minister said, calling for an urgent end to the bloodshed.
PM Shehbaz emphasised the need for swift and concrete measures to halt the war crimes being committed in Gaza. He reiterated Pakistan’s call for the formation of a task force to develop and implement effective strategies to stop Israel’s expansionist agenda.
He went further to propose the suspension of Israel’s membership in the United Nations, stressing that additional firm actions must be taken to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.
The Prime Minister said the summit had demonstrated a unified stance among participating nations in condemning Israel’s aggression, reflecting shared values and a collective determination to defend the rights of the Palestinian people.
Outlining urgent steps, Shehbaz said Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and its UN membership suspended. He urged the UN Security Council to invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, along with guaranteed humanitarian access.
“Above all, a just and lasting two-state solution must be achieved with the creation of an independent Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds as its capital,” the prime minister added.
Israel seeks to derail Gaza talks
Earlier, Qatar’s Amir said that Israel had sought to derail Gaza talks by striking Hamas negotiators in his country last week, and that its premier dreamt of an Arab world under Israeli influence.
“Whoever works diligently and systematically to assassinate the party with whom he is negotiating, intends to thwart the negotiations … Negotiations, for them, are merely part of the war,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told Arab and Muslim leaders.
Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on 15 September 2025, to discuss the recent Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar. The Emergency Summit will reaffirm the solidarity of Arab and Islamic countries with the State of Qatar. #Arab_Islamic_Summit https://t.co/KTULxS1bhQ
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) September 15, 2025
He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “dreams of turning the Arab region into an Israeli sphere of influence, and this is a dangerous illusion”.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that Israel’s current actions hindered any chances of new peace treaties in the Middle East.
In remarks aimed at Israel, he told the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha: “What is happening right now hinders the future of peace, threatens your security and the security of the peoples in the region and adds obstacles to chances for any new peace agreements and even aborts existing ones.”
Today’s summit was convened to show solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli strike on September 9 that targeted Hamas leaders in the Gulf state.
The attack resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. It drew widespread condemnation from major global powers, especially as it occurred during ongoing negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire—talks in which Qatar has played a key mediating role.
Apart from PM Shehbaz, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani are also attending today’s moot in Qatar. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also participated.
