<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-09-12/UAE-summons-deputy-Israeli-ambassador-over-attack-on-Hamas-in-Qatar-1GC3RDhMJR6/img/3843a1a427874f37936b9a9a63354ff2/3843a1a427874f37936b9a9a63354ff2.png' alt='Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Septemer 10, 2025. /VCG'
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said it had summoned the deputy Israeli ambassador over Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s subsequent “hostile and unacceptable” remarks, in another sign of strain between the two countries with close economic and defense ties.
The UAE, the most prominent Arab country to normalize ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, told Israeli Deputy Head of Mission David Ohad Horsandi “the continuation of such hostile and provocative rhetoric … solidifies a situation that is unacceptable and cannot be overlooked,” the Emirati Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Even before Tuesday’s strike on the Qatari capital Doha, relations between Abu Dhabi and Israel’s government – the most right-wing in its history – had been uneasy over a planned Israeli annexation in the West Bank, which the UAE said would constitute a “red line.”
Israel’s attempt to kill Hamas political leaders prompted international condemnation, but on Wednesday Netanyahu warned Qatar to either expel Hamas officials or “bring them to justice, because if you don’t, we will.”
The UAE, a major oil producer and regional trade and commerce hub with diplomatic sway across the Middle East, signed a U.S.–brokered normalization agreement with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, which paved the way for close economic and security ties, including defense cooperation.
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the first state leader to visit Doha after the attack, and he toured Gulf Arab countries to coordinate positions on the Israeli strike.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The Doha attack was especially provocative because Qatar has long been mediating Gaza Strip ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas along with Egypt and the United States, and Doha was hosting the talks.
Doha will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit this Sunday and Monday to discuss the Israeli attack.
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