The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has summoned Israel’s deputy ambassador, David Ohad Horsandi, following Israel’s unprecedented airstrike on Qatar that targeted Hamas leaders and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s subsequent remarks defending the attack.
In a statement on Friday, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the continuation of such “hostile and provocative rhetoric” was “unacceptable and cannot be overlooked.”
The UAE, one of the first Arab nations to normalize ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, had earlier condemned the strike, calling it a violation of Qatari sovereignty and a threat to international law and regional stability.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, denounced the attack as “blatant and cowardly,” adding that it was a dangerous escalation that could destabilize the region.
Saudi Arabia and Palestine also issued strong condemnations of the strike. Riyadh said the attack was a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and warned of “grave consequences” if Israeli aggression continues. Saudi Arabia expressed “full solidarity” with Qatar and pledged support for any measures Doha decides to take in response.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that the continuation of Israeli attacks could have repercussions not only for the region but for global peace and security.
The Israeli military confirmed that the strike in Doha was an assassination attempt targeting senior Hamas leaders. This marks the first Israeli attack on Qatari soil — a country that has played a key role in mediating ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and hosts the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the region.
The United States also condemned the attack, stating that it “does not serve the interests of Israel or the United States.”
This latest development underscores growing tensions between Israel and the UAE, despite their economic and security cooperation since the Abraham Accords.
