Newsroom
Arab leaders met in Doha this week and spoke out strongly against Israel’s war in Gaza. But while their words were sharp, their actions, or lack of them, are raising eyebrows.
The leaders backed Qatar, which said it was hit by ten Israeli missiles in a suburb of its capital last week. Their final statement was tough in tone but stopped short of announcing any real steps against Israel. For many, it felt like more talk than action.
The silence on action is striking given what’s happening in Gaza. Palestinian officials say more than 65,000 people have been killed so far, with thousands more missing under the rubble. A UN panel has even ruled that Israel is committing genocide. Still, rich and powerful countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar haven’t used their influence or money to push back.
It wasn’t always this way. Back in 1973, when Israel was at war with Egypt and Syria, Arab countries turned off the oil taps. The embargo hurt the United States and Europe badly, forcing a ceasefire within weeks. It showed that the Arab world had real muscle when it wanted to use it.
Fast-forward to today, and things look very different. Arab leaders now lean heavily on the U.S. for security and political backing. The U.S. even calls Qatar a “Major Non-NATO Ally” and has its biggest Middle East air base there. Yet when Israel struck near Doha, it reportedly didn’t even bother to ask Washington first.
Instead of acting directly, Arab governments are appealing to America to pressure Israel. “The U.S. has leverage over Israel, and it’s time to use it,” said Jassem Mohammed al-Budaywi, the head of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in comments published in Dubai’s Al Bayan newspaper.
