Amman: Jordanian politicians and academics have voiced strong opposition to Israel’s recent attack on Qatar, labeling it a severe violation of international law and established diplomatic norms. They emphasized that such an assault is indefensible and constitutes a dangerous precedent, calling for a decisive response from both Arab and international communities.
According to Qatar News Agency, former Jordanian Minister of Information Samih Al Maaytah condemned the Israeli strike, characterizing it as a brutal assault on a sovereign Arab nation. He highlighted that this action poses a serious precedent in the Arab-Israeli conflict’s history. Al Maaytah reiterated Jordan’s unwavering stance, as articulated by King Abdullah II, that Qatar’s security is intertwined with Jordan’s own, underscoring Amman’s commitment to supporting Arab partners against external attacks.
Al Maaytah further explained that the Israeli bombardment of Doha signifies a significant shift in Israel’s policy, expanding its aggression from traditional conflict zones in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria to Arab capitals actively engaged in the Palestinian issue, notably Qatar. He accused Israel of lacking genuine interest in negotiating with Hamas, treating ceasefires and prisoner exchange deals as temporary solutions under US pressure, and consistently avoiding political progress. He warned that the attack on Doha is part of a larger strategy aimed at undermining the Palestinian cause by targeting Gaza, weakening its resistance, depopulating the region, and tightening the blockade. This escalation, he cautioned, could lead to negotiations under harsher terms, intended to eliminate Hamas and reshape Gaza according to Israel’s vision, with ongoing US support.
Dr. Jamal Al Shalabi, Professor of Political Science at Hashemite University and Director of the International Relations Group at the Royal Jordanian National Defense College, echoed these sentiments. He condemned the Israeli strike as a serious breach of international law and diplomatic norms, emphasizing that it cannot be justified. He argued that the attack challenges every free nation globally, especially considering Qatar’s significant mediation role in ending the Gaza conflict and alleviating humanitarian suffering. Al Shalabi urged for a unified and forceful response from Arab, Islamic, and international communities, warning that inaction may embolden Israel to replicate such aggression in other capitals.
Jordanian political analyst Basel Al Ibrahim also criticized the aggression, viewing it as a strategic shift in Israel’s military tactics, extending beyond conflict zones to sovereign Arab capitals. He stated that the Israeli strike lacked legal and moral justification, violating the UN Charter and principles of national sovereignty. Al Ibrahim noted that the attack on Doha carried profound political symbolism beyond a conventional military operation.
He elaborated that the strike conveyed multiple messages: a direct affront to Qatar for its mediation role between Hamas and Israel, and a veiled warning to other Gulf states considering similar positions to Doha. Al Ibrahim speculated that the attack might be part of a joint US-Israeli effort to re-engineer the regional balance of power after failing to secure a decisive outcome in Gaza.