On the very day the Doha summit was convened, Netanyahu publicly admitted that Israel was becoming isolated, while representatives from dozens of Arab and Islamic countries gathered to discuss forming a “united front” against Israel.
Israel’s military strike on Doha, the capital of Qatar, became a turning point in the Middle East situation. Arab and Islamic countries, which usually have divergent interests, unexpectedly stood on the same front.
On September 15, two summits were held simultaneously in Doha. Approximately 60 countries, including traditional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, unanimously condemned Israel and even explored the possibility of suspending Israel’s UN membership. On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly admitted that the country was “in a state of isolation.”
This unity, born out of oppression, is quietly reshaping the power dynamics of the Middle East.
01 Military Expansion and Security Anxiety
Israel’s assertive foreign policy is pushing the Middle East into a new security dilemma. In its most recent military operation, Israel attacked six Arab countries within 72 hours, fundamentally shaking regional confidence in Israeli-Palestinian peace.
What shocked regional countries the most was the attack on Qatar on September 9. This marked Israel’s first direct military strike against a Gulf Arab country, and even Qatar, long a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian issue, was not spared.
Such actions, which cross traditional red lines, have fundamentally altered the regional security landscape. Tang Zhichao, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that this attack exposed the Netanyahu government’s “ambition to annex Palestine and reshape the regional order.”
For Arab countries reliant on U.S. security guarantees, the attack was particularly unsettling. Qatari Emir Tamim publicly stated that his country had “suffered a treacherous attack.”
At the time of the attack, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio happened to be visiting Israel, joining Netanyahu on a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City to express “rock-solid” support.
02 From Division to Unity in the Islamic World
Faced with Israel’s assertive military pressure, the Arab-Islamic world has demonstrated a rare level of unity not seen since the 1973 war.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced the activation of a “joint defense mechanism.” A joint military command will take measures to strengthen collective defense. This move reflects how Arab countries are adjusting their security concepts, shifting from reliance on the United States to greater self-reliance for security assurance.
The Doha summit not only discussed security issues but also began constructing collective response mechanisms. The summit communiqué called for “taking all possible legal and effective measures,” including imposing sanctions on Israel, cutting off military supplies, and even pushing for the suspension of Israel’s UN membership.
Notably, Iranian President Pezeshkian warned at the summit that “Israel may attack the capital of any Arab or Islamic country in the future.” This perception of Israel as a common threat has blurred the traditional divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
From the Persian Gulf to the Atlantic coast, a shared sense of security anxiety is reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Islamic world.
03 Technological Hegemony and Asymmetric Confrontation
Israel has established a new form of hegemony in the Middle East through its technological superiority. In September 2025, the “Death Pager” incident in Lebanon revealed a new form of warfare where technology is weaponized.
The traditional communication devices used by Hezbollah members to guard against Israeli surveillance turned out to be lethal weapons. Analysts suggest that Israeli intelligence agencies may have placed explosives on battery panels and detonated them remotely.
This technological hegemony extends beyond the battlefield into the economic sphere. The Israeli government is promoting a civil-military integration development path, with engineers from the military intelligence unit “Unit 8200” becoming a driving force in high-tech entrepreneurship.
The number of employees in Israel’s high-tech sector decreased by about 1.2% in 2024 compared to the previous year, marking the first decline in a decade. The prolonged state of war has caused Israel’s GDP to shrink, with a nearly 20% drop in the fourth quarter of 2023.
However, industries related to defense and security—such as cybersecurity, military technology, and remote sensing—are thriving amid the conflict. This polarizing trend in technological development is shaping an asymmetric relationship between Israel and its neighboring countries.
04 Educational Competition and Cultural Sovereignty
The response strategies of the Arab and Islamic world are expanding from the military domain to the educational and cultural spheres. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, publicly called for the development of a unified Arabic language textbook for use across Arab countries.
He questioned why Arab countries have yet to agree on a unified Arabic language and history curriculum, particularly regarding the teaching of the Palestinian issue. At the same time, he criticized Israel for systematically instilling false historical narratives in children from a young age.
This call has received a positive response from the Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. The organization plans to collaborate with Al-Azhar to launch an Arabic proficiency test similar to the English TOEFL and strengthen scientific research cooperation among Arab universities.
The competition over cultural identity is particularly intense in the field of education. Al-Tayeb warned that foreign educational influences are gradually penetrating Arab society, impacting students’ cultural identity and sense of belonging to Islamic civilization.
Within Israel, the educational gap among Arab youth has become a prominent issue. Data shows that 46% of 18-year-old Arab men and 43% of Arab women in Israel do not meet the requirements for higher education.
05 Geopolitical Restructuring and Future Trends
The Middle East is undergoing a systemic reorganization triggered by Israel’s assertive policies, with impacts extending beyond the region to touch the global balance of power.
International dissatisfaction with Israel’s policies is becoming increasingly evident. Spain has implemented measures such as an arms embargo against Israel and canceled a military procurement contract with Israel’s Elbit Systems.
Meanwhile, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund withdrew investments from several Israeli companies for ethical reasons, and Germany suspended military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip.
Behind this trend lies deeper global political changes. Sun Degang, Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, noted that only when the “Global South” and “Global West” form a unified front in support of Palestine and exert pressure on the United States will Israel make concessions.
According to a historic resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in September 2025, Israel is required to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories within 12 months. This resolution received overwhelming majority support.
The booths of Israeli technology companies were surrounded by black walls at the Paris Air Show, with their refusal to remove offensive weapons being the direct reason for their departure.
This isolation is not limited to exhibition halls in Europe. In Doha, GCC member state leaders are discussing the establishment of a joint defense mechanism; in New York, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding Israel end its occupation; in Rafah, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to unfold.
A new Middle Eastern reality is taking shape. Israel’s military strength and technological advantages have instead become catalysts for unity in the Arab and Islamic world. Oppression has given rise not only to resistance but also to deep internal integration and diplomatic reorganization on a global scale.
The boundaries of military power are extending from the battlefield to conference rooms, classrooms, and global supply chains.
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