Baghdad: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has urged the formation of an Islamic military alliance in response to what he described as ‘Israel’s’ widening campaign in the region, including last week’s deadly airstrike on Qatar, Anadolu Agency reported.
Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Sudani called Tuesday’s strike in Doha, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, “a shocking breach of international law.”
He warned that the attack highlighted how ‘Israel’s’ actions pose “a direct threat to wider regional stability.”
“There is no reason Muslim nations cannot form a joint security force to defend themselves,” the Iraqi leader said, calling on Arab and Islamic governments to establish a collective framework combining political, economic, and security cooperation.
His remarks came as Arab and Islamic foreign ministers met in Doha to prepare for an emergency summit scheduled for Monday. The agenda includes discussions on reviving a long-debated joint Arab military force, first proposed by Egypt nearly a decade ago.
Sudani cautioned that ‘Israeli’ “aggression will not stop at Qatar,” pointing to what he described as systematic killings in Gaza. According to Palestinian authorities, more than 64,800 people have been killed in the enclave since October 2023.
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The strike in Doha targeted a residential complex where Hamas leaders were meeting to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal, further frustrating regional mediators.
Qatar’s government condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” and “a clear violation of international law,” vowing not to accept ‘Israel’s’ “reckless behavior.”
International reaction followed swiftly. Several UN Security Council members denounced the strike on Qatar, though the Council’s statement did not directly name ‘Israel,’ instead urging all parties to “seize the opportunity for peace.”