Doha: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs headed the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation participating in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in the Qatari capital, Doha. The summit was attended by Their Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses, the heads of the participating delegations.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar led the welcoming party for HH Sayyid Shihab upon his arrival at the venue of convening the summit.
At the outset of the summit, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik along with his deep appreciation for the efforts of the State of Qatar in hosting the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit taking place in Doha at an exceptionally critical moment in world history.
The text of the HH Sayyid Shihab’s speech reads as follows:
“It is my honour to begin by conveying the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik along with his deep appreciation for the efforts of our sisterly nation, the State of Qatar, in hosting this emergency summit at an exceptionally critical moment in world history.
Your Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses, and distinguished attendees,
The treacherous attack that targeted the sisterly State of Qatar has made clear the gravity of the phase we are experiencing and the expanding scope of the war being waged by Israel in our region – in disregard of international law, legitimacy, and the sanctity of innocent lives. The targeting of Qatar, one of the foremost nations working tirelessly toward de-escalation and the revival of the peace process in Palestine, only distances us further from the noble goal we all seek: a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The Sultanate of Oman strongly condemns this reprehensible aggression and affirms its full solidarity with the State of Qatar – its leadership, government, and people. We emphasize here that the security of Qatar is an integral part of the security of the entire Gulf region, and indeed of the entire Arab and Islamic nation.
Yet our duty today extends beyond condemnation. It requires tangible and practical steps, particularly on the legal and diplomatic fronts. We must take action at the United Nations, the Security Council, and the General Assembly. We must employ the tools of international law to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and violations, and we must work together to halt this dangerous trajectory that threatens international peace as a whole.
The Sultanate of Oman believes that the silence of the international community in the face of these violations fuels impunity and encourages further aggression. Therefore, we call on this gathering to mark the beginning of a serious and unified effort – one that translates Arab and Islamic solidarity into clear positions and tangible pressure to end the occupation, halt the assaults, and restore the authority of international legitimacy.
Your Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses, and distinguished attendees,
Our meeting today serves to affirm that our Arab and Islamic nation is capable of confronting challenges when it stands united. We are certain that unity is the optimal path to safeguarding the future of our peoples and protecting our nations.
Peace be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, inaugurated the summit’s proceedings with a speech in which he emphasised that the Israeli aggression against Qatar had shocked the entire world and deliberately targeted its mediation efforts concerning the war in Gaza.
Sheikh Tamim noted that Qatar is a nation of mediation and has been making strenuous efforts for two years to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and end the deadly war being waged against the Palestinian people. He underscored that Israel not only rejects peace with its neighbours but also seeks to impose its will upon them.
Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), voiced in his address his strong condemnation of Israel’s blatant attack on the State of Qatar and endorsed any measures it takes to protect its security and sovereignty. He called on the United Nations Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and hold Israel accountable for its crimes.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, affirmed that the Israeli aggression against Qatari sovereignty exceeded all bounds and violated every humanitarian principle. He stated that the absence of accountability and impunity only emboldens Israeli leaders to continue their crimes.
The summit examined measures to respond to the heinous Israeli strike that targeted high-ranking Hamas officials on Qatari soil, its grave consequences, and its flagrant breach of sovereignty which threatens regional stability. Delegates worked to develop a coordinated response to this act of aggression while also strengthening collective Arab and Islamic cooperation to address ongoing security and political challenges throughout the region.
The summit also discussed means to back efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and the pivotal role played by Qatari mediation in this context, along with reaffirming the central importance of the Palestinian cause and the necessity of reaching a just and comprehensive solution in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Omani delegation accompanying the Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs included Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance; Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs; Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information; Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs; and Sayyid Ammar bin Abdullah Al Busaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the State of Qatar.