“We will target them again, and Qatar must either expel them or hand them over to justice.” With these words, war criminal and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued yet another threat to Qatar—vowing to strike Hamas leaders once more after his last reckless assault that crossed every red line.
On 9 September 2025, Netanyahu burned every diplomatic bridge, destroyed any negotiation track, and upended regional and international alliances across the Arab world. He ordered the bombing of Doha, the Qatari capital, in an attempt to assassinate Khalil al-Hayya and fellow members of the Palestinian negotiating delegation representing Hamas. But the operation failed for reasons still undisclosed.
In moments like these, reactions cannot be measured by standard diplomatic calculations, patient restraint, or cautious statements. There is only one principle that matters: deterrence, and deterrence alone.
Qatar Responds: State Terrorism and Betrayal
Qatar condemned the act as state terrorism. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described Netanyahu as a rogue criminal who must be handed over to international justice. Doha suspended its role in the negotiations, declared there was no longer any hope for hostage release, and called for an emergency Arab summit to discuss a united Arab response against Israel.
Across Arab capitals, royal courts and presidential palaces rushed to issue statements—filled with familiar phrases: “we condemn, we reject, we warn, we support, we emphasise.” Yet such words neither protect sovereignty nor deter an enemy, nor do they defend land.
Internationally, Western capitals also erupted in outrage. European leaders condemned Israel’s violation of Qatari sovereignty, describing Netanyahu as a man destabilising the region and destroying any path toward wisdom or negotiation.
But the common thread in all these reactions—Arab and international alike—was the complete absence of deterrence, the only language Netanyahu and his extremist ministers understand, and the only factor that makes even U.S. President Donald Trump calculate carefully.
Netanyahu Doubles Down
Within 24 hours of violating Qatar’s sovereignty, Netanyahu boasted of his reckless act, issuing new threats to Qatar and any state that hosts Hamas leaders. He even invoked the U.S. assassination of Osama bin Laden as justification for his crime.
Qatar hit back once again. In a televised CNN interview, its Prime Minister and Foreign Minister directly threatened Netanyahu, promising a united Arab response and labelling the assault a betrayal.
At the same time, the American outlet Axios reported a Qatari official suggesting that Doha was reassessing its security ties with Washington and exploring new partnerships. This was a signal of deterrence—pressuring both Washington and Tel Aviv by hinting at a pivot toward China and other partners. A move Trump himself would not take lightly.
But Doha quickly denied the Axios report through its International Media Centre, reaffirming the strength of U.S.-Qatar relations and the depth of their security partnership. This denial—though intended to reassure—pulled Qatar back to square one, stripping away its leverage and returning it to the same cycle of Arab-Western statements of condemnation.
Empty Halls of the Security Council
Those who hoped for the UN Security Council to act differently were left disappointed. A marathon session produced a flood of statements and condemnations—but avoided even naming Israel. In the end, the result was nothing but a dangerous zero, capped with open threats from the Israeli envoy, broadcast before the eyes of the world.
Qatar’s Last Chance — and the Arab World’s
This is not only Qatar’s last opportunity for survival. It is also the final test for all Arab capitals and leaders who will gather in Doha for the emergency summit.
Let us whisper in their ears:
- You tried statements of condemnation—and failed.
- You tried the Security Council—and failed.
- You relied on Donald Trump and U.S. protection—and failed.
You paid billions, even trillions of dollars, and hosted U.S. military bases on your soil for “protection” against the so-called Iranian threat. Yet Israel bombed six Arab countries in a single day. Is it not time to try something different?
What a Unified Arab Response Must Include
A true unified Arab response must carry real deterrent measures against Israel. This is not necessarily about direct war—though such confrontation becomes legitimate after repeated Israeli violations of Arab sovereignty. At the very least, it must include:
- Immediate severance of diplomatic ties with Israel.
- Suspension of peace treaties and annulment of the so-called Abraham Accords.
- Total halt to trade between Arab states and Israel.
- Imposition of air and sea bans on Israeli planes and ships across Arab skies and ports.
- Closure of Israeli embassies in Arab capitals and expulsion of all Israeli ambassadors.
- Immediate end to genocide in Gaza and complete Israeli military withdrawal from the besieged strip.
If the final communiqué of the Doha summit does not include such measures—or at least some of them—then Netanyahu will strike Doha again and again. And after Doha, he will target Cairo, Amman, and Riyadh, continuing until the dream of a “Greater Israel” is realised.
Conclusion: The Last Warning
This is Qatar’s last chance—but it is also the last chance for the Arab world. If squandered, Israel will continue to trample through Arab capitals day after day, once or twice daily, unchecked and unchallenged.
The time for empty words has passed. Deterrence is the only language the occupier understands.
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