President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has departed for Qatar to attend the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha. The summit, scheduled for Monday, September 15, was convened in response to Israel’s recent airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital.
The summit will bring together leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League. Its purpose is to coordinate a collective response to what many are characterizing as a significant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.
The Israeli strike, which took place on September 9, reportedly targeted Hamas officials involved in ceasefire negotiations. While key figures survived the attack, casualties included family members and Hamas security personnel.
The attack has elicited widespread condemnation across the Muslim world. Countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Iran, and Kuwait have issued strong statements expressing solidarity with Qatar. This incident marks the first Israeli attack on Qatar.
Qatar has extended invitations to leaders of Arab and Islamic countries to visit and discuss the nation's response to the attack.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry has stated that the meeting will focus on developing a resolution regarding the Israeli attack.
According to the President’s Office, President Muizzu is expected to deliver a speech reaffirming the Maldives’ support for Qatar and its unwavering commitment to defending Palestinian rights. The summit's objective is to establish a unified stance against Israeli aggression and to discuss measures aimed at preventing further escalation.
The Netanyahu government has also faced criticism from within Israel itself.