Karim Easterbrook
Israel’s attack on Qatar was not a defensive strike. It was not about protecting Israeli civilians. It was a deliberate escalation, targeting Hamas leaders engaged in discussions around Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.
Benjamin Netanyahu has destroyed what little hope remained for peace in Gaza and sent a chilling warning to every country in the region: Israel will strike anywhere, at any time, with impunity. Netanyahu’s message is clear. Any state that dares to even speak with those Israel labels as “terrorists” risks being attacked. This is not diplomacy. It is bullying. By striking Qatar, central to mediation efforts, Netanyahu has shown he is interested only in war without limits. The comparison to 1938 is unavoidable.
Then, many in Britain clung to the illusion that Hitler could be reasoned with, although his actions proved otherwise. Netanyahu plays the same role: a leader whose repeated violations of international law, rejection of ceasefire efforts, and pursuit of a Greater Israel show he cannot be trusted as a partner in peace.
To believe otherwise is to repeat the mistakes of appeasement. For years Arab states have sought to balance diplomacy with restraint, avoiding direct confrontation with Israel. That is understandable. But restraint has not prevented aggression. Netanyahu has calculated he can act with impunity, shielded by Western governments. Words of condemnation will not stop him.
The attack on Qatar proves he is prepared to extend the conflict across the Middle East. The Arab States have a stark choice. Either they continue to hope Netanyahu can be restrained by words, or they recognise the reality: he will not stop unless he is made to using force. Unity is the only answer. That unity must transcend old divisions and rivalries, even some mistrust between Arab governments and Iran. Netanyahu’s threat is not limited to Gaza. It is a regional danger. And the only way to confront it is through a collective military stand.
That does not mean reckless escalation. But it does mean presenting a credible deterrent, military as well as political. Without it Netanyahu will continue to destabilise the region, one strike at a time.
Some Arab governments may believe they can avoid confrontation by staying neutral, by keeping their distance from Gaza or by quietly cooperating with Israel. But the attack on Qatar shows neutrality offers no protection. If Israel is willing to strike a State that has played the role of mediator, then no State is safe.
The illusion of safety through silence is just that, an illusion. This is a decisive moment for the Gulf States. The attack on Qatar is not an isolated incident. It is a signal of intent. Netanyahu has shown he is willing to destabilise the entire region if it serves his political and military objectives. The time for illusions is over. Just as Europe in 1938 faced the choice between appeasement and resistance, the Arab States now face a similar decision.
They can continue to hope Netanyahu will be restrained by diplomacy, or they can act together to stop him before it is too late. The Arab world has the strength and resources to confront this danger but only if it acts together. Fragmentation will only embolden Netanyahu further.
The choice is stark: unite now while there is still time or wait until the region is dragged into a wider war on Israel’s terms. History has already taught us what happens when aggression is ignored. The question is whether the Arab states will learn that lesson or repeat it.
Karim Easterbrook is a Former Cambridge School Principal and Author now living in Oman
