Ashraf AboArafe
The Sultanate of Oman will tomorrow take part in the extraordinary Arab–Islamic Summit convened in Doha to address the brutal Israeli assault that targeted senior leaders of Hamas inside Qatari territory.
A recent phone call between His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored Oman’s pivotal role and consistent policy: supporting every international effort aimed at achieving peace and stability. It reaffirmed Oman’s position as an active partner in strengthening international cooperation to confront regional and global challenges.
By joining this summit, Oman reasserts its active presence and its principled stance against violations of state sovereignty, stressing that Gulf and Arab security is indivisible, and any aggression against one is a threat to all. The participation also reflects Oman’s deep bonds with Qatar and its enduring approach of standing by fellow Arab and Muslim nations during crises, while upholding international law, the UN Charter, and the belief that dialogue and diplomacy remain the surest path toward just and lasting peace.
Ambassador Abdullah bin Nasser Al Rahbi, Oman’s envoy to Egypt and its Permanent Representative to the Arab League, emphasized that the timing of this summit is both delicate and critical. He noted that unprecedented military and political escalation—marked by Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and its violation of Qatar’s sovereignty through hostile rhetoric—demands a unified Arab–Islamic stance. Without such unity, he warned, the region risks sliding into chaos that could endanger both regional and global peace.
Al Rahbi affirmed Oman’s unwavering belief, under Sultan Haitham’s leadership, in the necessity of respecting state sovereignty, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and rejecting any assault—military, political, or media—on a sister nation. He stressed that the attack on Qatar is an attack on the entire Gulf and on all who believe in just peace. This, he said, cannot be countered by words alone, but by collective Arab action and international pressure to halt such aggressive policies.
He highlighted the vital roles of Qatar and Egypt in mediating between Hamas and Israel, particularly in efforts to secure ceasefires, ease civilian suffering, and work toward sustainable stability. These initiatives, widely recognized by the international community, reflect a genuine Arab commitment to peace and justice—efforts that Israel seeks to undermine by discrediting mediators and sowing doubt.
“The logic of treachery and betrayal has become embedded in the policies of the occupation,” Al Rahbi said, noting that such actions not only target a people under occupation but also strike at the heart of collective Arab efforts for peace.
Oman’s leadership, exemplified by Sultan Haitham’s call with the Emir of Qatar, has shown firm solidarity rooted in respect for sovereignty and rejection of interference. On Palestine, Oman maintains that no just or comprehensive peace can be achieved without ending the occupation, halting aggression against Palestinians, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Ambassador Al Rahbi decried the double standards of the international community, which often turns a blind eye to state terrorism while condemning the legitimate struggle of a people fighting for freedom. Israel, he said, practices violence in its most brutal forms, invoking extremist ideologies to justify occupation, while shifting blame onto the defenseless.
Oman, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continues to work with regional and international partners to find just, lasting solutions that secure regional stability and end cycles of violence. This summit, Al Rahbi stressed, is an opportunity to forge a unified Arab–Islamic position that rejects coercion, condemns aggression, supports mediation and humanitarian initiatives, and restores faith in international justice.
He concluded by stressing that joint Arab action is now more urgent than ever, requiring cohesion, reform of the Arab League system, and prioritization of the collective interest of the nation above all else. Failure to do so, he warned, risks leaving the field open to extremism, domination, and chaos.
