Gulf bloc approves new defense steps after Israeli strike on Qatar

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Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi, OIC Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Youssef Al-Dobeay, and Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Hossam Zaki attend a press conference after the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to discuss the Israeli attack on Qatar in Doha, Qatar, on September 15, 2025. [Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced a package of steps on Thursday to strengthen collective security after Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrike on Qatar, Anadolu reports.

In a joint statement, the Gulf Joint Defense Council said members agreed to step up intelligence sharing through the Unified Military Command, provide a common air operations picture across the Gulf, and accelerate work on a joint ballistic missile early warning system.

The ministers, meeting in Doha, also endorsed updating joint defense plans, holding coordination drills between operations and air defense centers within three months, and conducting a large-scale aerial exercise.

They pledged to link national defense systems more closely to counter “any potential threats or acts of aggression.”

Chaired by Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, the emergency session brought together senior officials from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

READ: Qatar, Saudi Arabia denounce Israel’s expanded ground offensive in Gaza City

The council condemned “in the strongest terms this dangerous military attack,” calling Israel’s strike on Doha a “serious escalation” and a “gross violation of international law and the UN Charter.”

The attack on Qatar, it stressed, “was an attack on all GCC states.” The ministers vowed support for any measures Doha takes to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while warning that the strike also undermined Qatar’s mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

The statement followed a separate meeting of Gulf military chiefs in Doha on Wednesday, which focused on bolstering deterrence and reviewing regional threats.

The Sept. 9 Israeli airstrike on Doha killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, drawing sharp condemnation from Qatar, which vowed accountability and stressed its right to defend its sovereignty.

The attack came even as Doha, together with Egypt and the US, was mediating indirect talks between Hamas and Israel for a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

READ: Qatar’s emir in Jordan for 1st visit since Israeli strike on Doha

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Continue ReadingGulf bloc approves new defense steps after Israeli strike on Qatar

‘Netanyahu is like a relative of Hitler,’ Turkish president says

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers remarks during the AK Party Organization Academy Closing Event at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkiye on September 13, 2025. [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman – Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for Israel’s attack on the Hamas negotiation team in Qatar last week, saying, “Ideologically, Netanyahu is like a relative of Hitler,” Anadolu reports.

“Just as Hitler could not foresee the defeat that awaited him, Netanyahu will face the same ultimate fate,” he added while returning from Doha, where he attended an emergency Arab-Islamic summit following the Israeli airstrike.

Erdogan called the attack on the Hamas negotiation team “a blatant challenge to international order and international law” and said Israel’s leadership has “turned their radical mindset into nothing more than a murderous network built on fascist ideology.”

The Turkish president also addressed Western countries’ recognition of Palestine, saying it would put further pressure on Israel and pledging to raise the issue again at the United Nations.

READ: Arab-Islamic summit in Doha shows Islamic world’s unwavering support for Qatar: Turkish president

He expressed hope that “the front of humanity will gain broader support” at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Lastly, Erdogan also addressed Türkiye’s diplomacy in Libya, emphasizing the protection of the country’s sovereignty and unity. “We are committed to safeguarding Libya’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity, and all our actions are guided by these objectives,” he said.

He noted that Türkiye has supported the legitimate Tripoli government from the outset, while recent policies have also sought to open diplomatic channels with eastern Libya. “This reflects Türkiye’s multidimensional diplomatic efforts, regional vision, and commitment to achieving peace,” Erdogan said.

He added that the Benghazi administration’s approval of the maritime jurisdiction agreement signed between Türkiye and Tripoli would be a “significant gain under international law.”

READ: Turkish Red Crescent donates $2 million to support hospitals in Gaza

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn't bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn’t bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.

Continue Reading‘Netanyahu is like a relative of Hitler,’ Turkish president says

700 days of Israeli genocide in Gaza a stain on humanity: Hamas

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Smoke and dust rise from Mushtaha Tower, located west of Gaza City, after being hit by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Strip on September 05, 2025. [Saeed M. M. T. Jaras – Anadolu Agency]

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas marked 700 days of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza on Friday, calling it a “stain on humanity” and urging the international community to take decisive action against the ongoing atrocities, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, Hamas highlighted its efforts to reach a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement, stressing that it had “shown significant flexibility” in negotiations.

The movement blamed the repeated failure of mediators on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and called him “a war criminal committed to undermining diplomatic initiatives, pursuing indefinite plans of extermination and displacement, and placing the lives of captives at risk to serve his government’s agenda.”

Hamas renewed its call to the international community, including Arab and Islamic countries, the UN, and its organs, particularly the UN Security Council, to “fulfill their responsibilities toward the Palestinian people and intervene to halt the crimes of the fascist occupation government.”

READ: UK’s foreign secretary to visit Gulf to seek consensus on Gaza peace

The movement emphasized the need for “punitive measures against Israel,” warning that “mere condemnations are insufficient” and that, without substantial consequences, Israel would “continue its crimes without regard for international protests or positions.”

Hamas also praised global grassroots solidarity with the Palestinian people and welcomed the launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an initiative to break the blockade on Gaza.

The ongoing war in Gaza has entered its 700th day on Friday, with Israel having killed more than 64,200 Palestinians. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

READ: Hamas ready to deal seriously with clear political offer, practical steps to end war

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel's Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don't do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel’s Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don’t do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.

Continue Reading700 days of Israeli genocide in Gaza a stain on humanity: Hamas

‘We are held by our government, not Hamas,’ says Israeli hostage in proof-of-life video

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An image of Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal is displayed on a large screen in the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, on August 9, 2025. [Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images]
An image of Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal is displayed on a large screen in the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, on August 9, 2025. [Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images]

Palestinian resistance group Hamas released on Friday a video showing Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal and another captive moving through the rubble of destroyed homes in Gaza City, which faces intense Israeli military offensives, Anadolu reports.

“We thought we were prisoners of Hamas, but the truth is that we are prisoners of our own government. We want this to end and to return to our families,” said Gilboa-Dalal in the video.

He said he remains in Gaza despite the Israeli offensive and blamed the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the risk to his life.

“I am terrified of the Israeli army attacking Gaza City. This means we will die here,” he said.

Gilboa-Dalal also accused Israeli leaders of lying and neglecting the welfare of soldiers and hostages.

“[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir, and [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich lie all the time. They do not want us to return,” he said.

The hostage further called on Israeli citizens to “demonstrate strongly, create chaos, and make problems for the government to release us and stop the war.”

READ: Israeli hostage families urge Trump to press Netanyahu for Gaza deal

The video also shows Gilboa-Dalal meeting another captive, whose identity was not disclosed.

Hamas has previously released proof-of-life footage to confirm the condition of hostages, highlighting concerns over their safety in Gaza amid ongoing hostilities.

On Aug. 18, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. While Israel has not responded to the proposal, Netanyahu gave orders to proceed with a plan to occupy Gaza City.

Tel Aviv estimates that nearly 50 Israeli hostages are still held in Gaza, including 20 alive.

Meanwhile, more than 10,400 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, suffering from torture, starvation, and medical neglect, which has resulted in many deaths, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.

Israel has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

READ: Trump calls on Hamas to free all 20 hostages in Gaza immediately

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel's Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don't do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel’s Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don’t do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.

Continue Reading‘We are held by our government, not Hamas,’ says Israeli hostage in proof-of-life video