Qatar Strike Creates Rift but Not Rupture in Gulf-Israel Ties

Relations between Israel and the Arab Gulf states at their lowest levels in decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision may prove the Doha strike on September 9 that it is the most reckless in his volatile years.

Six people, including Qatari security officer, were killed in several Israeli strikes on Tuesday afternoon, and many others were injured. The killing of a Qatari citizen made the deadly attack more terrible for a country with a small number of population as group relations are narrow.

Relations between Israel and the Arab Gulf states at their lowest levels in decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision may prove the Doha strike on September 9 that it is the most reckless in his volatile years.

Six people, including Qatari security officer, were killed in several Israeli strikes on Tuesday afternoon, and many others were injured. The killing of a Qatari citizen made the deadly attack more terrible for a country with a small number of population as group relations are narrow.

When the Gulf country struck, the Israeli Prime Minister crossed a geopolitical line that has never crossed his country. Strateically, the Arab world put in full swing. Fear now is that the Israeli government can act unarmed, and hit wherever, and whenever he sees it.

The repercussions of the Doha strike will feel in four worlds-role as a mediator, Israel’s relationship with Qatar, threat perceptions in the Gulf, and the broader Palestinian dynamics of Israel.

Qatar’s continuous role is stopped as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. Qatar has publicly said it would continue to work as a mediator, while the United States and the United Kingdom urged it to continue this role. But this in itself is not enough. The talks have been canceled since September 9, and it goes without saying, confidence with Israel at its lowest level.

Regional effects will be dangerous as well. With their rapid condemnation, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stipulates all Israel’s strike as an attack on the Gulf. This has consequences for Israel, especially since the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have official relations with Israel through Ibrahim’s agreements. After five years of these agreements, Israel is is greatly isolated from the Gulf, even if ties are not officially cut off.

Previously, Israel did not consider a direct threat to the security of the Gulf. On the contrary, Israeli political and security officials are trying for years to argue that they are in line with the Gulf states against extremism. However, the growing increasing Israeli government views have weakened this argument. With the attack on Doha, Israel is now viewed as a threat by the Gulf.

The fact that Israel has frankly claimed the country strike, and said it would be ready to repeat it, led this point to the house of the Gulf leaders. He says that Emirati presidential advisor Anwar Garagash said: “Israeli wars, the adventure in the militias, and the region’s crisis have re -drawn the political map in the past two years,” adding: “The human suffering and the repercussions of the geopolitical downs are still not dedicated.” The Gulf states now see that Israel is infringing, and long -term strategic planning will take this into consideration.

After nine days of strike on Doha, the Defense Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council was held. It was clear that the subsequent statement was aimed at emphasizing the vision of this new threat. He reiterated that “the attack on the state of Qatar is an attack on all cases of the Gulf Cooperation Council states” and clarifying that “in light of the Israeli aggression”, the Council will take “the executive measures necessary to activate the joint defense mechanisms and the abuse of the Gulf.”

Washington has noticed the Gulf position. The United States is still an elementary – but it is not alone – the security racket in the region. The level of confidence in Washington reached its peak after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, but it has now decreased for several years. The failure to act quickly and effectively after the Iranian -backed militia attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in 2019 and 2022, respectively, accelerated this change. However, Qatari officials were clearly saying that their defensive relations with the United States are still strong. president Donald Trump said he felt “very bad” about the attack, which he claims was discovered only at the last minute. But most importantly, Washington remains the only actress who can ultimately prevent Israel from its ongoing strike in the region.

During his trip to Doha, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that a new defensive agreement is being completed. A few details have emerged on this issue, but Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al -Zari explained that the Israeli attack “records the need for a renewed strategic defense agreement between the United States and the United States.”

Later that week, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a defense agreement with Pakistan. This, also, highlights a shift in Gulf security considerations. Saudi Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman announced that the two countries stand side by side against the “aggressor”, without naming the aggressor. A Saudi official told Reuters that the deal is a “comprehensive defensive agreement that includes all military means”, which includes Pakistani nuclear capabilities. While Radia and Islamabad had close relations for years, their security relations to include mutual defense send a clear signal.

The strike on Doha also led to the exacerbation of the regional fluctuations that worsened since October 7, 2023. After the emergency summit in Doha, six days after the Israeli attack, 57 countries from the Islamic balance organization, and the Arab League freezed in a statement “Silence from the international community in the face of repeated Arab violations. However, the fulfillment of this threat is still a continuous political challenge, especially in light of the confidence of the United Nations. And Israel Military.

The countries in the Gulf have different sources of financial lever, but they remain careful in how to use it because they give priority to stability above all. The UAE and Bahrain remain members of Ibrahim’s agreements, while the world is closely monitoring the movements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding Israel, especially as it coordinates with France on recognition of a Palestinian state. The UAE, for its part, was clear that the spirit of Ibrahim’s agreements will be “betrayal[ed]If the Palestinian territories are included by Israel.

While the Gulf stresses its constant interest in diplomacy, it enhances its own defenses, and called on international actors to deter Israel and reassess how the sources of power are used. Gulf countries are still committed to a long -term peace deal with Israel, but there is a growing feeling that the current government has no interest in peace.

The strongest general data may not look dependent, but it indicates a real shift in the situation. With diplomatic talks invested during the United Nations General Assembly, the Gulf states seek to obtain broader recognition that a line was crossed with the strike on Doha. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tarim bin Hamad Al Thani, described Israel as a “rogue” state in his Unga speech and called for a global response to its actions. Now, the Gulf states are looking forward to the international community to prevent other lines from crossing them.