Israel’s attack against Hamas leadership headquarters in Doha, Qatar last week Thursday was indeed an attack on the Gulf Arab nation. This was according to former U.S. Intelligence officer Scott Ritter. Ritter warned however that despite the lukewarm response from United States President Donald J. Trump, Washington would raise not a finger in protest against Israel. This despite Qatar being the host to the largest US naval base in the Middle East. The Speaker of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) stated the attack conveyed a message to all Middle Eastern countries – this has been viewed would diverse interpretations.
Ritter: The attack on Qatar should not be seen as an isolated incident; rather, it is part of a broader pattern of behavior that Israel, with U.S. backing, has pursued for decades. While the strike on Qatar does inflame tensions, history suggests there will be no new confrontation with other countries such as Egypt, Turkey, or Iran. No state is going to step in to defend another. In the wake of this attack, there will be plenty of posturing and loud rhetoric, but ultimately nothing will happen—because the United States supported this strike. And nothing can be done against Israel unless Washington is part of it, and in this case, the U.S. stands fully and unequivocally with Israel.
Israel is turning up the heat in the region with its provocative attacks. The Israeli Zionist regime continues to attack any country in the Middle East that offers any assistance or presence to the Palestinian resistance. The usual denunciations will make the rounds among the Arab nations but their will be no armed response. The U.S. will do everything to protect the Israeli Zionist state from any military escalation from the Arab nations. History has shown time and time again how weak they are when divided. Iran and Türkiye will issue the usual ritualistic condemnations but will not go the extra mile. The Washington political elite and Israel’s sympathisers in the U.S. would call on President Trump to intervene militarily on Israel’s behalf should the Zionist state be attacked.
Israel will likely continue with its repression of the Palestinians in the West Bank and genocide in Gaza – business as usual. Trump, his supporters and political allies will continue to rain their blessings on the Israeli state. From the regimes and nations of the Arab world the familiar condemnations will echo, but the western world will turn a deaf ear.
Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian said the unprecedented attack on Doha last week “is part of Israel’s strategy of expansionist ideology and being capable of doing anything it wants to do and being able to do it with impunity”. Ms Aghabekian was speaking on the sidelines of a preparatory foreign ministers meeting ahead of an emergency Arab-Islamic summit to address the Israeli attack on Qatar on Monday. Palestinian, because that’s exactly what Israel stands for and the mentality that rules Israel today,” she told The National. Ms Aghabekian was referring to Israel‘s escalating attacks in the region, expanding to Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran in recent months.
Israel has threatened to strike again to reach more Hamas targets abroad, while Qatar described the attack as state terrorism. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman visited Washington to convey messages of disapproval regarding Israel’s decision to strike a key US ally and home to the largest American base in the region.
Ms Aghabekian is right to condemn Israel’s attacks on various regional powers as “expansionist ideology”. However, as a leading member of the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah regime in the West Bank she is stuck in a precarious position. Her administration and boss President Mahmoud Abbas can do nothing against Israel’s escalated forced removals, settlement expansion and riots perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank or Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and his regime will butcher them like they are doing in Gaza. The closest card Ms Aghabekian and her people have to play is receiving further universal recognition of a Palestinian state from foreign governments. This diplomatic recognition could go a long way in giving legitimacy to the Palestinian cause.
The Israeli regime will no doubt move to attack Fatah targets abroad should that faction move against Israel in any way. Retaliation comes with heavy risk. The Qataris for their part will be unable to do anything about the attack in their capital city other than air their complaints at the White House. The Americans will offer their apologies but will make sure Netanyahu and his regime face no consequences. The Israelis for their part will likely continue with their actions.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
