Israel’s Strike on Qatar and the Shifting Regional Narrative: From Anti-Iran to Anti-Israel
An emergency diplomatic meeting in Doha, convened in the wake of Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Hamas negotiators in Qatar, brought together Arab and regional leaders in a rare show of unity.
An emergency diplomatic meeting in Doha, convened in the wake of Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Hamas negotiators in Qatar, brought together Arab and regional leaders in a rare show of unity. Among those present were Qatari officials, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian and Turkish envoys, and representatives from across the Arab world. Their collective message was clear: Israel’s strike represented a direct violation of Arab sovereignty and a dangerous precedent that could destabilize the entire region.
The gathering was remarkable not only for the condemnations issued, but also for what it revealed about shifting dynamics in the Middle East. For years, Arab summits had focused overwhelmingly on Iran’s role in regional conflicts. In Doha, however, the conversation shifted decisively toward Israel as a source of destabilization. Leaders warned that if attacks on Arab capitals like Doha could occur with impunity, no country in the region was safe.
Egypt used the moment to float a bold proposal: the creation of a joint Arab Army to defend against external threats. The proposal underscored the growing sense of vulnerability among Arab states, increasingly doubtful of Washington’s willingness or ability to protect them. Iran, for its part, welcomed any move that emphasized Arab sovereignty, while warning against illusions that U.S. backing would deter future Israeli aggression.
The Israeli strike on Qatar has already shifted public opinion. For many across the Arab world, the attack was viewed not just as an assault on Hamas, but as an attack on a Gulf state that had invested heavily in mediation and diplomacy. Qatar denounced the raid as an act of “state terrorism,” while other states expressed solidarity, stressing that such actions undermine the credibility of regional negotiation efforts.
For Tehran, the incident offers a chance to recast its role. Iranian officials framed Israel as the aggressor and highlighted how the Doha strike endangered civilians and diplomats alike. State media portrayed the attack as proof that Israel—not Iran—is the actor most willing to trample Arab sovereignty. This narrative has found resonance, especially as images of destroyed buildings in Doha circulate widely across the region.
The shift is not only rhetorical. By attacking Qatar—a state long seen as a neutral mediator—Israel has complicated the delicate balance that had allowed Gulf states to cautiously normalize ties while still claiming to protect Arab interests. Now, the question for many Arab leaders is whether Israel can be considered a partner at all, or whether its actions make it an unacceptable liability in the eyes of their own populations.
Beneath this debate lies a deeper anxiety: the erosion of U.S. deterrence. The 2019 Iranian strike on Saudi Aramco had already exposed gaps in American protection of Gulf infrastructure. Now, Israel’s ability to hit Doha without consequence reinforces the perception that the U.S. cannot—or will not—prevent attacks on Arab soil. This realization does not yet provide Arab states with clear alternatives, but it is reshaping calculations about alliances and security strategies. The sense that “America cannot protect you” is becoming harder to ignore.
In this new context, Israel’s strike may mark a turning point. Where once the region’s central question was “How do we contain Iran?” the debate is increasingly becoming “How do we restrain Israel?” Whether through Egypt’s Arab Army proposal, recalibrated diplomacy with Tehran, or new security arrangements, Arab leaders are being forced to consider paths that were unthinkable just a few years ago. Israel may have intended the strike on Doha to demonstrate strength and eliminate adversaries, but its wider effect has been to unite regional voices against it and to accelerate the erosion of U.S. credibility as the ultimate guarantor of Arab security. For Gulf states, the reality is stark: their choices are narrowing, and the balance of power in the Middle East is once again in flux.