MUSCAT: In an extraordinary session held in Doha on Monday, the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) instructed the Council’s Joint Defence Council to hold an urgent meeting, which will be preceded by a session of the Supreme Military Committee, to evaluate the defence situation of the GCC states in response to the Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar.
After the gathering of GCC leaders, the Supreme Council also assigned the Unified Military Command with the responsibility of implementing measures to activate joint defence mechanisms and enhance Gulf deterrence capabilities.
In its concluding communiqué, the Supreme Council reiterated the unwavering solidarity of the GCC states with Qatar and the actions it is taking to counter the aggression. It emphasized that the security of GCC states is interconnected, in line with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defence Agreement, which stipulates that an attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all.
The Council vehemently condemned Israel’s aggression, labeling it a blatant infringement of Qatar’s sovereignty, a perilous escalation, and a serious violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. It cautioned that such actions pose a direct threat to Gulf security and regional stability, undermining efforts to establish peace in the area.
The statement highlighted that Israel’s ongoing aggressive policies risk dismantling existing understandings and agreements, potentially leading to severe consequences for the entire region.
The Council urged the UN Security Council, the global community, and key powers to take on their responsibilities by implementing strong, deterrent actions, such as effective sanctions, to halt Israel’s breaches of international law and humanitarian standards.
Additionally, the Council emphasized that the aggression hinders Qatar’s mediation efforts in Gaza aimed at achieving a ceasefire, securing the release of detainees, and alleviating the hardships faced by the Palestinian people. It noted that Israel’s ongoing aggressions against neighboring countries pose a significant barrier to both international and regional peace initiatives.
In closing its session, the Council called upon all nations committed to peace and international organizations to denounce Israel’s aggression towards Qatar and its actions in Gaza — which include forced displacement, starvation, hindrance of relief efforts, and assaults on journalists, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers — labeling these acts as crimes that necessitate unified international response.
