The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Friday it had summoned Israel’s deputy ambassador to protest against an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, as well as remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it described as “hostile and unacceptable.”
The move underscores growing tensions between the two nations, despite their close economic and defense ties since the Abraham Accords normalized relations in 2020.
According to the Emirati foreign ministry, Deputy Ambassador David Ohad Horsandi was told that “the continuation of such hostile and provocative rhetoric solidifies a situation that is unacceptable and cannot be overlooked.”
The UAE had earlier condemned the strike in Doha, which drew widespread international criticism. Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and host to the region’s largest U.S. military base, Al Udeid Air Base, was targeted for the first time in such an attack.
Saudi Arabia also strongly condemned the strike, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law and Qatari sovereignty.” In a statement, Riyadh warned of “grave consequences” from Israel’s actions and pledged full solidarity and support for Qatar.
The rare attack on Qatari soil marks a new escalation in the conflict and raises concerns about wider instability across the Gulf region.
