UAE condemns Israel over Netanyahu’s hostile remarks against Qatar, reaffirming Gulf unity and warning of dangerous escalation.
ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hostile statements against Qatar, warning that such rhetoric threatens Gulf security and stability.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the security and stability of Qatar is inseparable from that of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It stressed that any aggression against one GCC member state amounts to an attack on the entire Gulf security framework.
The ministry categorically rejected Netanyahu’s remarks, which included threats directed at Qatar, calling them provocative and hostile. It warned that such language undermines the chances of peace and risks pushing the Middle East towards “extremely dangerous trajectories.”
The GCC, which unites the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, is built on the principle of collective defence. The UAE’s position makes clear that Israel’s threats are not seen in isolation, but as a challenge to Gulf unity.
This strong condemnation comes as Israel faces growing criticism from Arab nations over its policies and actions. The UAE’s open solidarity with Qatar sends a firm message that destabilising rhetoric will not be tolerated and that Gulf states will stand together against external threats.
What triggered it?
Netanyahu accused Qatar of sheltering Hamas leaders in “sumptuous villas” and financing the group, warning that Doha must either expel them or bring them to justice, otherwise “we will.” He likened Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel to the U.S. 9/11 attacks and defended Israel’s strike in Doha by saying it was no different from America hunting down terror masterminds worldwide after 9/11.
