Doha: Qatari newspapers focused their editorials on Friday on regional and local developments, highlighting the extraordinary session of the GCC Joint Defense Council held Thursday in Doha. The dailies affirmed that the Council's outcomes reflected the unity and cohesion of the Gulf states in the face of regional security challenges, while sending a clear message of full support for the State of Qatar following the recent Israeli aggression.
According to Qatar News Agency, the newspapers also reported remarks by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and member of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocates Group, who warned that this year has been the worst in the lives of children and their education in conflict zones. Al-Sharq editorialized under the title "Gulf Security Is Indivisible," stating that the Council declared the Israeli military assault on Qatar as an act of aggression, an unacceptable and dangerous escalation, and a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter.
The editorial in Al-Sharq stressed that the meeting reaffirmed the Gulf states' collective backing for all measures taken by Qatar to defend its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It emphasized that the Israeli attack targets not only Qatar but also the Gulf security system as a whole, undermining the region's role as a platform for dialogue and mediation. The paper noted that the aggression strikes at Qatar's diplomatic and mediation efforts, supported by all GCC states, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.
Al-Sharq further added that the Council's endorsement of new measures to strengthen collective defense, including greater military integration and air-defense coordination, demonstrates that Gulf security remains indivisible under the Joint Defense Agreement. Meanwhile, Al-Arab, in its editorial titled "Gulf Solidarity with Qatar," stated that the GCC's united stance represents a strategic step toward consolidating regional unity.
Al-Arab pointed out that the Unified Military Command will soon convene to implement new decisions, notably enhancing joint air defense systems. The editorial concluded that this solidarity will reinforce Qatar's role in regional diplomacy, particularly in relation to Palestine, noting that Doha has long been a center for mediation between Israel and Hamas.