UAE summons Israeli envoy over strike in Qatar, warns of regional escalation

Tensions in the Middle East escalated further on September 12 as the United Arab Emirates summoned an Israeli diplomat to formally protest the recent Israeli strike targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar — a move the UAE strongly condemned as a dangerous provocation.

The summoning came as Qatar’s top diplomat and Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, continued a high-level visit to Washington, where he is expected to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following an address to the United Nations Security Council, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

According to Israeli media reports, Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ebrahim al-Hashimy met with David Ohad Horsandi, the deputy head of Israel’s diplomatic mission in the UAE, delivering a stern rebuke of the airstrike. In a rare move for Abu Dhabi — which normalized relations with Israel five years ago — al-Hashimy “denounce[d] the blatant and cowardly Israeli attack” on Qatar.

She described the assault as “an irresponsible escalation that threatens regional and international peace and security.”

“The continuation of such hostile and provocative rhetoric undermines prospects for stability and pushes the region towards extremely dangerous trajectories, and solidifies a situation that is unacceptable and cannot be overlooked,” the UAE's official statement added.

The Israeli government has yet to issue an official readout of the meeting.

The diplomatic backlash comes ahead of an emergency summit of Arab and Islamic nations, set to be held next week in Qatar to address the fallout from the attack. The strike — which targeted what Israel claims were Hamas political operatives in Doha — has sparked international outcry, with several regional powers viewing the action as a direct violation of Qatari sovereignty and a potential flashpoint for wider conflict.

Despite the high-profile nature of the strike, Hamas has claimed that its top leaders survived the Israeli attack, though five lower-ranking members were reportedly killed.

In New York, Sheikh Mohammed addressed the UN Security Council, warning of Israel’s broader strategic ambitions in the region. “Israel is trying to rearrange the region by force,” he said.

By Vafa Guliyeva