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Monday, January 19, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "emergency" (51 articles)

Gulf Times
Qatar

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs meet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan

His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, on the sidelines of the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit hosted by Doha on Monday. During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, as well as developments in the region, particularly the treacherous Israeli attack that targeted Doha. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed during the meeting that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty in the face of the blatant Israeli attack. For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan expressed his country's solidarity with the State of Qatar and described the Israeli attack as a violation of Qatar's sovereignty and international law.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Iraqi Prime Minister arrives in Doha

The Prime Minister of the sisterly Republic of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani arrived in Doha Monday to participate in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled to be held in Doha today.Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the State of Qatar Mohammed Jaafar Al Sadr.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Palestinian president arrives in Doha

The President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha on Sunday to take part in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled to be held on Monday.President Abbas and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Qatar Fayez Majed Abu Al Rub.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Preparatory Ministerial meeting for Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit convenes in Doha

The Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled for Monday, convened on Sunday in Doha. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The meeting will address a draft statement regarding the Israeli attack against the State of Qatar on Sept. 9, which targeted residential buildings in Doha housing several leaders of the Hamas movement.

Gulf Times
Qatar

President of Mauritania arrives in Doha

The President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani arrived on Sunday in Doha, to participate in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit to be held in Doha. President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to Qatar Mohamed Mohamed Abdullah Bebane.

Gulf Times
Qatar

More than 200 journalists, correspondents cover Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha

More than 200 journalists and media professionals from various regional and international media institutions continue to arrive in the Qatari capital, Doha, alongside local media outlets, correspondents, and press, to cover the activities of the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit.This large gathering of journalists and media professionals will cover the Summit's activities through the media center specially prepared for this important occasion, located inside the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The center has been equipped with everything necessary to cover and follow the Summit's proceedings in real-time, including screens, studios, press halls, offices, dozens of cameras, computers, and other advanced technologies, to provide comprehensive, distinguished, and rapid media services, and to broadcast the Summit events smoothly.Through these facilities, the media center offers comprehensive and accessible media services to cover this exceptional event, which is eagerly anticpated and followed by the world and has attracted widespread international attention.In this context, the center witnessed during the early hours of Sunday morning a huge influx of senior media professionals, journalists, and correspondents from various local, Arab, and international media institutions, to participate in covering the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit. The media preparations made in this regard will provide distinguished coverage through the media center hosting this major Arab and Islamic event.This exceptional Summit, in addition to its main theme, aims to strengthen Arab-Islamic solidarity and advance joint Arab and Islamic action towards broader horizons amid current challenges.

Dr. Samir Abu Madlala
Qatar

Summit crucial opportunity to shape Arab and Islamic response to Israeli aggression: Palestinian analysts

Palestinian political analysts and experts agree that the upcoming emergency Arab-Islamic summit, scheduled to be held in Qatar capital, Doha, on Monday, represents a crucial opportunity to coordinate Arab and Islamic response to the Israeli entity's arrogance and blatant violations of international law and state sovereignty. The most recent example is the Israeli aggression targeting residential compounds housing several Hamas leaders in Doha.In separate interviews with Qatar News Agency (QNA), speakers noted that the summit is expected to formulate a unified stance to confront Israeli encroachments on Arab sovereignty and to reach a decision supporting Arab, international, and UN efforts to halt the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza Strip over the past two years, as well as to oppose the Judaization, annexation, and expropriation projects Israel has begun implementing in the West Bank.Political analyst and academic at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Dr. Samir Abu Madlala, stated that the Arab and Islamic countries participating in the summit are called upon to stand with Qatar in defending its national sovereignty. He emphasized the need for these countries to reassess their relationship with Israeli occupying entity, considering it a colonial expansionist state that poses a threat to the interests of Arab nations and peoples - a stance that Israel's far-right government continues to flaunt.Abu Madlala stressed in an exclusive statement to QNA that the expected Arab and Islamic political support for Qatar must translate into concrete practical steps, including halting cooperation and coordination with Israel, suspending trade relations, and taking measures to prevent Israeli flights from crossing the airspace of these countries.He added that Palestinian and Arab interests must be prioritized, separate from relations with Israel. Without practical action, the occupation will continue its plan to destroy Gaza Strip, carry out its bloody project of displacing its residents, and continue its aggression against Arab countries, as seen in recent attacks on Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Tunisia, Palestine, and most recently, Qatar.Abu Madlala also commended Qatar's support for the Palestinian people, both materially and morally, including development projects in Gaza following the 2014 aggression, which amounted to over 400 million USD and contributed to strengthening Palestinian resilience. He reaffirmed that Qatar consistently stands with the Palestinian people in their right to return, freedom, and the establishment of an independent state.The Palestinian analyst and academic highlighted the vital role of Qatari and Egyptian mediation between the Palestinian resistance and occupation, particularly since the outbreak of Israeli aggression on Gaza, during which Israel has carried out organized state terror against the population under US sponsorship.He said that Qatar's role, alongside Egypt, is crucial in mediation. This mediation succeeded in achieving a ceasefire and truce in January of this year. However, when Qatar sought to continue this role at the US request, Israeli entity attacked Qatar's sovereignty and attempted to assassinate the negotiating delegation, demonstrating the state's policy of organized terror against the Palestinian people.Abu Madlala emphasized that through this attack, Israeli entity proves it has no intention of reaching a truce or agreement to recover its prisoners from the resistance; rather, it seeks to continue its bloody project in Gaza, destroying it entirely and displacing its residents.He concluded that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation roles are central and crucial at this time, expressing hope that Qatar can achieve a ceasefire and halt hostilities as soon as possible, to strengthen Palestinian resilience and preserve what remains of Gaza Strip, given that Israel's project in Gaza targets the Palestinian people, while in the West Bank it targets Palestinian land for annexation and Judaization.Writer and political analyst, Mohammed Abu Qamar, considers that the upcoming Arab summit will witness crucial discussions on mechanisms for a collective response to Israeli aggression, as well as on options for Arab and Islamic action in the coming phase, amid Israeli arrogance.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Abu Qamar noted that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha comes at a sensitive and critical time, coinciding with Israeli aggression against Qatar sovereignty and the occupation's attempt to undermine all efforts to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, which continued for over 700 days. He also highlighted the expansion of Israeli threats across the Arab region, targeting Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and reaching as far as Qatar, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu openly revealed his ambitions for what he terms "Greater Israel."Abu Qamar emphasized that Qatar's persistent diplomatic efforts since the first day of Gaza aggression - including successfully negotiating ceasefire agreements in February 2024 and January 2025 - have not been tolerated by Israel, which seeks to continue its campaign of killing and destruction. He explained that the recent attack on Qatar territories, targeting Hamas negotiating delegation, was an attempt by Israel to undermine Qatar's mediation efforts and obstruct progress toward an agreement to end war in Gaza.Against this backdrop, Abu Qamar stressed the importance of the summit in taking a decisive stance against Israeli aggression in the region, which now threatens Arabian Gulf. The summit is expected to forge an urgent position aimed at halting attacks on Arab states, ending the war in Gaza immediately, and stopping settlement expansion in West Bank, which eliminates any chance for a Palestinian state.He highlighted that Arab countries hold all the leverage necessary to achieve these objectives through decisive measures if Israel's aggression against Palestinian territories and Arab states is not stopped. Eyes of the region are on the Doha summit, with hope that it will adopt a unified position capable of countering Israel's far-right government, which has taken actions and decisions that risk igniting the entire region.In the same context, political researcher, Ahmed Abu Zahri, noted that choosing Qatari capital - which recently suffered an Israeli attack - as the venue for the summit sends a strong message to Israel: Arab and Islamic response to Israeli violations transforms the targeted state into an active arena for political and diplomatic confrontation with the occupation.Abu Zahri told QNA that the high-level representation expected at the summit from the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic world sends a clear message that Israel's targeting of a Gulf state constitutes a threat to the entire region. This gives the summit a mandate to act as a unifying Arab platform, extending beyond traditional expressions of solidarity.He affirmed that the Israeli attack on a residential compound in Doha was primarily aimed at undermining Qatar's role as an effective mediator in Gaza conflict, preventing it from exercising diplomatic and political pressure to implement a ceasefire. As a result, Gaza issue and ending war have become central items on the agenda of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit.

 Jamal Rushdi
Qatar

Doha Summit conveys message of solidarity with Qatar: Spokesman for Arab League Sec General

Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League Jamal Rushdi affirmed Saturday that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit - to be hosted by Doha on Monday - carries a message of full solidarity with the State of Qatar in the face of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces targeting the residential compounds of members of the Hamas Political Bureau in Doha last Tuesday.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Rushdi said that the convening of this summit in the State of Qatar aims primarily to discuss the consequences of the unprecedented, dangerous and cowardly Israeli aggression on Qatari sovereignty, by targeting Hamas leaders on Qatari territory. He pointed out that this summit is expected to express a message of full solidarity from Arab and Islamic countries with the State of Qatar and to stand by it in its position that defends international law and international norms, which have long stipulated that mediators or negotiators should not be targeted.The spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League added that the upcoming summit will discuss the repercussions of the situation and the steps that must be taken to halt the slide in the region due to the aggressive behavior of the Israeli entity. The summit is also expected to support the State of Qatar in any measures it takes to preserve and defend its sovereignty, he said, noting that the summit also represents a message to the world rejecting Israeli arrogance and refusing to accept the logic of the law of the jungle in the region.Rushdi stressed the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibility in curbing this reckless Israeli behavior, which is igniting fires in the region, one country after another. In this regard, he emphasized the need to put an end to these Israeli attacks, which have targeted more than one country in the Middle East.The spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League concluded his remarks by highlighting the need to put an end to the ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of respecting international law and warning against the behavior of the Israeli entity, which continues its brutal aggression against the Palestinian people.

Dr. Khaled Za'rour
Qatar

Doha Summit to shape Arab, Islamic stance toward Israeli aggression:  Syrian researchers, academics 

Syrian researchers and academics affirmed that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit to be held in Doha this Monday highlights the importance of reshaping a unified Arab and Islamic position toward the Israeli aggression that targeted residential compounds of several Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, to confront Israeli policies, support the Palestinian people and their rights, and underscore Qatar's pivotal role in mediation efforts since the outbreak of the war.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dean of the Faculty of Media at Damascus University Dr. Khaled Za'rour said that holding the summit at this time carries significant implications, noting that it follows directly after the Israeli attack on a residential compound for Hamas members in Doha, marking the importance of both timing and content.He added that the summit includes consensus on rejecting and condemning the aggression, considering it a pivotal shift in the series of Israeli attacks, as it targeted a state hosting negotiations and acting as a mediator.Dr. Za'rour explained that the summit will send a message of unity within the Arab ranks and that the Arab heart beats strongly in solidarity.He noted that the aggression has influenced the Arab and Islamic stance by exposing the false Israeli narrative attempting to justify its attacks, emphasizing that positions will not be complete unless translated into practical steps, including full political and economic boycott, redrawing military and political alliances to identify the most loyal partners, and leveraging the economic power and geographic position of Arab states to strengthen the stance.The dean pointed out that the aggression attempted to weaken Qatar's role but instead strengthened it, as Arab ambassadors' statements at the UN General Assembly showed that Qatar emerged from this aggression with a stronger and more influential position, reinforcing the Palestinian cause.He stressed that the political and diplomatic response should focus on containing the aggressor and exposing its claims, not merely preventing recurrence of the attacks.Similarly, political researcher Omar Idlibi from the Harmoon Center for Studies said that the emergency summit reflects a rare unity in the Arab and Islamic stance and clear solidarity with Qatar in facing aggression that crosses all red lines.Idlibi explained that convening the summit following Qatar's political and diplomatic efforts and international condemnations demonstrates the participating states' determination to coordinate positions to confront Israeli aggression toward the Palestinian people and regional states, highlight the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank, and engage the international community in serious efforts to revive the two-state solution and the Palestinian right to an independent state.He added that the participating states possess various instruments of influence, notably economic leverage, to create tangible impact on international approaches to regional issues and curb leniency toward Israeli aggression.Idlibi emphasized that Qatari diplomacy demonstrated great capacity in responding to the aggression through official statements denouncing it as a treacherous attack, and extensive diplomatic efforts in capitals and the UN Security Council to garner support for Qatar's position, culminating in the call for the Arab-Islamic summit to discuss and coordinate responses and support the Palestinian people against Israeli policies.He noted that Qatari mediation had previously succeeded, in partnership with Egypt and the United States, in achieving a partial ceasefire agreement and the release of several prisoners and hostages.The recent Israeli aggression represented a severe blow to the mediation process but also an opportunity to mobilize Arab and international positions to pressure the occupation and engage in serious negotiations to end the Gaza war tragedy and pave the way for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.Idlibi added that the success of these efforts requires Qatar to maintain a firm stance and leverage the widespread condemnations of the aggression to secure international support for mediation efforts and concrete guarantees compelling the occupation to halt undermining negotiations, a goal the Doha summit can achieve with Arab and Islamic backing.The expert on Israeli affairs Khaled Khalil told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Israeli attack on a residential compound in Qatar crossed all boundaries, reaching an unprecedented level of criminality.He emphasized that this treacherous and sudden aggression against the mediator and negotiating party constitutes a serious criminal precedent, sounding the alarm for Arab and Islamic national security, particularly Gulf security.Khalil explained that the scale of Israel's crimes in Gaza and the region is directly proportional to the absence of countermeasures, making it imperative to activate available deterrence tools through all political, diplomatic, and economic means.He added that the call for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes 57 countries and forms the largest political bloc after the United Nations, represents a key step to confront the aggression, especially as the OIC's ministerial council has played an increasingly prominent political role in recent years.Khalil highlighted the need to build alliances with the European Union and Western countries that have shown growing criticism of Israel, leveraging international opinion to politically, economically, and diplomatically pressure Israel. This is particularly crucial amid rising accusations of genocide in Gaza and the recent recognition of the Palestinian state by six European countries within less than two weeks, coinciding with UN General Assembly sessions.He pointed out that the extensive condemnation and multiple visits from Islamic states demonstrated broad support and solidarity with Qatar.Khalil warned that if Israel does not face firm political and diplomatic pressure, it will continue its crimes without restraint.Khalil described the attack on Qatar as a historic warning, highlighting the need for serious Arab and Islamic action that goes beyond statements.He noted that the current Israeli leadership pursues extremist ideological projects under a historical and religious cover, disregarding strategic and rational calculations, a suicidal path that risks further regional escalation.He underlined that targeting a residential compound of Hamas members in Qatar, a mediating state and active diplomatic player, as well as a major Washington ally outside NATO, represents a dangerous development that could reignite the Arab-Israeli conflict, which Israel has sought to confine to its bilateral conflict with Palestinians.Khalil added that the attack stains the extremist Israeli right and underscores the role of Qatar in activating necessary tools to hold aggressors accountable and push for a firm collective Arab stance, ensuring Israel cannot impose a de facto reality or solidify new security facts.He emphasized that the current stage presents a historic opportunity for Arab and Islamic states to use international forums to condemn Israel, hold it accountable for its crimes, enhance its global isolation, and translate Arab and Islamic solidarity into practical measures that protect Palestinian rights and restore the issue to the international agenda.Experts concluded that the Emergency Summit in Doha represents a critical opportunity to unify Arab and Islamic positions, transform solidarity into concrete steps supporting Palestinian resilience, halting Israeli attacks on Gaza, and strengthening Qatar's role as a pivotal and effective mediator in political and diplomatic efforts.Analysts noted that the targeting of the residential compound in Qatar did not weaken its position; rather, it reinforced its regional and international role, making the summit a key platform to coordinate responses to Israeli aggression and activate political, diplomatic, and economic pressure tools against Israel, ensuring the protection of Palestinian rights and reaffirming adherence to international law and UN resolutions.

Dr. Samir Farag
Qatar

Doha Summit demands unified stance to protect Arab national security: Egyptian experts

Egyptian experts and analysts emphasised the importance of Qatar hosting an emergency Arab and Islamic summit this week to reaffirm the support of the Arab and Islamic worlds for Doha's actions in international and regional forums in response to the Israeli aggression that targeted residential compounds of several Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital last Tuesday.The experts and analysts told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Doha summit convenes at a highly sensitive moment requiring a unified Arab stance that goes beyond traditional condemnation statements to practical steps to confront the ongoing Israeli aggression, stand with Qatar in solidarity, and endorse all measures it takes to protect and defend its sovereignty against Israeli threats.They stressed that the summit should emphasize the importance of safeguarding Arab national security as a whole, in addition to defending Palestine as a central cause in confronting Israeli crimes.In this context, Egyptian thinker and strategic expert Dr. Samir Farag told QNA that the emergency Arab and Islamic summit in Doha following the blatant Israeli attack aims to send important deterrence messages, while establishing an Arab strategy to secure Arab and Islamic states against threats, both direct, represented by Israel, and indirect threats to Arab national security.Farag emphasized that adopting a strategy of unity in Arab action politically, economically, in media, and militarily is crucial under the current delicate regional circumstances.He noted that unifying these elements would achieve the necessary deterrence against the ongoing Israeli aggression, which escalated sharply with the recent attack on Qatar.Meanwhile, former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Ambassador Hussein Haridy told QNA that Arab states must stand with Qatar in solidarity and support all measures it takes to protect and defend its sovereignty against Israeli threats.He pointed out that convening an emergencyArab and Islamic summit in Doha confirms the support of the Arab and Islamic worlds for Qatar's international and regional moves in rejecting the Israeli aggression last Tuesday.Hreidi expressed hope that the emergency summit would take practical steps to support Qatar and confront Israeli threats to Gulf and Arab states, while strongly supporting the Palestinian people's right to resist Israeli occupation and adopting comprehensive boycott measures against Israel until it halts its aggression on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.For his part, Editor-in-Chief of Al Ahram Weekly Ezzat Ibrahim commented that the Doha summit convenes at a critical time requiring a unified Arab stance that goes beyond traditional condemnation statements to practical steps to confront the ongoing Israeli aggression, which has extended to the attack on sisterly Qatar.He noted that the summit's goal is not only to defend Palestine as a central cause, but also to protect Arab national security as a whole, as continued aggression without deterrence could lead to greater chaos and provide cover for ethnic cleansing policies and the dismantling of national identities.He stressed that the Doha summit must adopt a clear political stance rejecting forced displacement of Palestinians and set red lines against any Israeli military expansion toward neighboring countries.He also emphasized that the summit should revitalize the Arab Peace Initiative within a new framework aligned with regional and international developments, and make full use of diplomatic and economic tools, including relations with major powers and pressure through international institutions, to remind the global community that occupation and settlement are the root causes of regional crises.He added that it is essential for the summit to establish a practical mechanism to coordinate humanitarian and media efforts amid the unprecedented humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, noting that Israel exploits control over the narrative to justify its crimes.He underscored that the summit should create a unified Arab platform to document violations, support field journalists, and ensure unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, holding the world accountable for its legal and moral responsibilities.

 Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari
Qatar

Doha to host emergency Arab-Islamic summit Monday

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari announced that Doha will host the emergency Arab-Islamic summit Monday, which is being held in light of recent developments in the region.Dr al-Ansari told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the summit will discuss a draft statement on the Israeli attack on Qatar, submitted by the preparatory meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers, which will be held Sunday.Preparatory meeting of foreign ministers today to draft statement on the Israeli attack on Qatar "The emergency Arab-Islamic summit to be hosted by Doha on Monday, carries a message of full solidarity with Qatar in the face of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces"The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the convening of the Arab-Islamic Summit at this time has its significance, as it reflects the broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with Qatar in confronting the cowardly Israeli aggression that targeted the residential headquarters of several Hamas leaders, and these countries' categorical rejection of the state terrorism practiced by Israel.Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League Jamal Rushdi affirmed yesterday that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to be hosted by Doha on Monday, carries a message of full solidarity with Qatar in the face of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces targeting the residential compounds of members of the Hamas Political Bureau in Doha last Tuesday.In remarks to QNA, Rushdi said that the convening of this summit aims primarily to discuss the consequences of the unprecedented, dangerous and cowardly Israeli aggression on Qatari sovereignty, by targeting Hamas leaders on Qatari territory.Egyptian experts and analysts emphasized the importance of Qatar hosting an emergency Arab and Islamic summit to reaffirm the support of the Arab and Islamic worlds for Doha's actions in international and regional forums in response to the Israeli aggression.The experts and analysts told QNA that the Doha summit convenes at a highly sensitive moment requiring a unified Arab stance that goes beyond traditional condemnation statements to practical steps to confront the ongoing Israeli aggression, stand with Qatar in solidarity, and endorse all measures it takes to protect and defend its sovereignty against Israeli threats.Lebanese officials and analysts emphasised the necessity for the emergency summit in Doha to produce decisions and measures commensurate with the Israeli aggression.They highlighted the importance of Qatar hosting the summit, noting that the Israeli attack marked a dangerous turning point with repercussions extending beyond the Palestinian issue to the broader political developments in the region.They pointed out that Qatar serves as a mediator for halting the aggression in Gaza and is a leading country globally in promoting peace and stability.Iraqi officials and analysts affirmed Iraq's full support for Qatar in facing the Israeli aggression, stressing that the attack represents a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and a breach of international law and the UN Charter.In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), they emphasized the need for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha this Monday to serve as a strong platform to confront the aggression and enhance security and stability, calling on the Arab and international community to take firm action against these hostile acts.Syrian researchers and academics affirmed that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit to be held in Doha highlights the importance of reshaping a unified Arab and Islamic position toward the Israeli aggression, support the Palestinian people and their rights, and underscore Qatar's pivotal role in mediation efforts since the outbreak of the war.Speaking to QNA, Dean of the Faculty of Media at Damascus University Dr Khaled Za'rour said that holding the summit at this time carries significant implications, noting that it follows directly after the Israeli attack, marking the importance of both timing and content.

A child holds a water bottle as he and his family take refuge, following a deadly earthquake in Bambakot village in Dera Noor district in Nangarhar province, Saturday. (Reuters)
International

US yet to approve any help following Afghanistan earthquake, sources say

Nearly a week after an earthquake killed more than 2,200 people in Afghanistan and left tens of thousands homeless, the United States has not taken the first step to authorise emergency aid, and it was unclear if it plans to help at all, two former senior US officials and a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.The lack of response by Washington to one of Afghanistan's deadliest quakes in years underscores how President Donald Trump has forfeited decades of US leadership of global disaster relief with his deep foreign aid cuts and closure of the main US foreign assistance agency, said the source and the former officials.The US Agency for International Development was officially shuttered on Tuesday.The State Department on Monday extended its "heartfelt condolences" to Afghanistan in an X post.As of Friday, however, the State Department had not approved a declaration of humanitarian need, the first step in authorising US emergency relief, said the former officials, both of whom worked at USAID, and the third source, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.Such a declaration is usually issued within 24 hours of a major disaster.The sources said State Department officials had considered recommendations for US disaster aid for Afghanistan. One former senior official said the White House also has considered the issue, but decided against reversing a policy of ending aid to Afghanistan. When asked if the US would provide any emergency aid to Afghanistan following the magnitude 6 quake on Sunday, which was followed by powerful aftershocks on Thursday and Friday, a State Department spokesperson said: "We have nothing further to announce at this time."The United States was, until this year, the largest aid donor to Afghanistan, where it fought a 20-year war that ended with a chaotic US withdrawal and the Taliban's seizure of Kabul in 2021. But in April, the Trump administration ended virtually all aid totaling $562mn — to Afghanistan, citing a US watchdog report that humanitarian groups receiving US funds had paid $10.9mn in taxes, fees, and duties to the Taliban.Asked whether the US would provide emergency relief for earthquake survivors, a White House official said, "President Trump has been consistent in ensuring aid does not land in the hands of the Taliban regime, which continues to wrongfully detain US citizens.”United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said the Afghan earthquake was "the latest crisis to expose the cost of shrinking resources on vital humanitarian work.”"Massive funding cuts have already brought essential health and nutrition services for millions to a halt; grounded aircraft, which are often the only lifeline to remote communities; and forced aid agencies to reduce their footprint,” he said in a statement on Thursday.The Trump administration also has yet to respond to a request by the International Rescue Committee humanitarian organisation to send $105,000 worth of US-funded medical supplies following the first earthquake.The materials include stethoscopes, first aid supplies, stretchers, and other essentials, said Kelly Razzouk, vice president of policy and advocacy for the IRC."The stocks are stuck in storage," said Razzouk, who served on former US President Joe Biden’s National Security Council. "In recent memory, I can't remember a time when the US did not respond to a crisis like this."The IRC needs Washington’s permission to send the equipment to Afghanistan because it had been funded by an unrelated US grant that the Trump administration had since canceled."Beyond the loss of life, we have also seen basic infrastructure and livelihoods destroyed," Stephen Rodriguez, the representative in Afghanistan for the UN Development Programme, told reporters on Friday.He said donations of money, goods, and services have come from Britain, South Korea, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkiye, and other countries."Far more is needed."