Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline stance on Qatar and Hamas is facing a formidable challenge from a mounting wave of regional and global pushback. An emergency summit in Doha has become the focal point for this opposition, isolating Netanyahu and his government’s aggressive policies.
Regionally, the pushback has been nearly unanimous. The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have joined forces to condemn the Israeli strike in Qatar. Crucially, this opposition includes the UAE, which has publicly labeled Netanyahu’s rhetoric “hostile,” demonstrating a clear break with his approach.
Globally, the challenge has come from Netanyahu’s most important ally, the United States. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the attack as unhelpful to U.S. or Israeli goals represents a significant divergence from the Israeli position and adds a powerful voice to the chorus of disapproval.
This combined pressure creates a difficult political environment for Netanyahu. His strategy of using military force and public threats to coerce Qatar has not only failed to achieve its immediate objective but has also triggered a diplomatic backlash that undermines his broader foreign policy goals. The summit in Doha is a clear manifestation of this strategic failure.