TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday urged Muslim-majority countries to break off relations with Israel as leaders gather in Doha for an emergency summit following an unprecedented Israeli strike on Hamas members in Qatar.
Speaking before his departure, Pezeshkian said Islamic countries should “cut ties with this fake regime” and work toward greater unity in responding to Israeli actions. He expressed hope that the summit would deliver concrete measures against Israel.
The high-level meeting of Arab and Islamic leaders aims to demonstrate solidarity among Gulf and regional states while increasing pressure on Israel, which faces intensifying international calls to end the war in Gaza and address the humanitarian crisis.
Key participants include Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who arrived in Doha on Sunday.
Qatari officials confirmed that the agenda includes discussion of a draft resolution condemning the Israeli strike. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that Israel’s actions represent a broader regional threat, saying the issue has expanded beyond the Palestine-Israel conflict.
“Arab and Islamic countries must unite to counter Israeli expansionism,” Fidan said.
Qatar, home to the largest US military base in the region, continues to play a key mediation role in the Israel-Hamas war, alongside Egypt and Washington. Hamas leaders voiced hope that the summit will result in a unified Arab-Islamic stance against Israel.
