Doha: Forging Peace from the Shards of Aggression

As I See

Adel El-Baz

1
When the skies of Qatar flashed and thundered with missiles and bombers descending upon its land, its resolve did not tremble, nor did the determination of its people falter. How could it? The people of Qatar have already tasted the bitterness of betrayal—when their land and sky were besieged. Yet their resolve never wavered; their strength never broke. They stood firm, shattered the blockade, and triumphed through sheer will—never bowing, never bargaining over their sovereignty.

And once again, the very heavens received the treachery of friends and allies. The people of Qatar drank anew from the cup of betrayal by those nearest in blood—a pain more piercing than the sharpest blade, as the poet once said. The irony of geopolitics is that Iran—once the reason for the siege due to Qatar’s ties with it—was the very one to bomb Doha last Monday. And no one else!

2
Eighteen missiles tore through Doha’s skies—this city vibrant with culture, art, sports, and forums teeming with intellect and rich dialogue. Doha, that singular oasis where you live in safety and comfort—secure in your life, property, and family. Its people are trustworthy, honorable, and unfamiliar with treachery. They are generous to the point of awe; their words are laced with kindness, just as their perfumes are with sweetness.

3
This marks the second great crisis I have witnessed in Qatar. At the time, I was editor of Lusail Economic Newspaper, close to both events and officials. Back in 2017, Qatar suddenly found itself encased in a suffocating blockade—unthinkable, especially as a response to its goodwill and neighborly grace. That kin and blood relations could inflict such harm was beyond comprehension.
(And you, sir, still signal to me… that the road continues through this well of darkness. Then, in your name, I ask: How long will these familial bonds be torn asunder?)

Soon after, Qatar absorbed the shock. The wheels of the state turned with astonishing composure and resolve. It turned adversity into opportunity: local industries flourished, factories opened, trade prospered, and global engagement deepened. What was meant to harm it brought only temporary pain.

4
What struck me most during this recent Iranian aggression—though Iran claimed it was targeting the U.S. base, not Qatar itself—is that such a strike cannot be excused by the Qatari side. It is an attack on sovereignty, regardless of the intended target. After all, when Mr. Haniyeh was assassinated on Iranian soil, Iran deemed it an infringement on its sovereignty—even though the target was Hamas leadership.

What truly caught my attention was the response of the Qatari authorities. It was stunning in its speed, clarity, and wisdom. Let me recount what unfolded, for history’s sake.

Just hours before the treacherous attack, Qatar announced the closure of its airspace. A courteous message followed to passengers of Qatar Airways and other airlines, informing them they were now honored guests of Qatar, and their needs would be attended to—however long the crisis might last.

Everything was conducted swiftly and precisely. Neither citizens nor residents sensed any looming crisis. Life went on as normal, without fear or panic. Preparations unfolded silently and cautiously. And when the attack occurred on the evening of Monday, June 23, 2025, and Doha’s skies were ablaze, the city remained calm. No sirens blared. No calls to shelter. Some people even watched from their balconies, snapping selfies, safe and reassured.

Defense systems—Patriot, NASAMS, Rapier, Roland—intercepted and downed 18 of the 19 missiles. The one that landed caused no injuries or damage.

5
The attacks ended, and no one was harmed. Every attempt to bring harm to Qatar and its people is met with divine exchange—peace, safety, and calm. That very evening, life resumed peacefully. Doha’s residents strolled the Corniche, serene and secure.

Qatar had weathered one of its greatest challenges, as some sought to make its land a battleground for regional and global score-settling. Yet Qatar was not party to any of it. In fact, it has long been the one to mend the world’s wounds and ease its tragedies through diplomatic grace. As soon as those tense hours passed, Qatar’s diplomacy went into action—as usual—on multiple tracks. This is the hallmark of Qatar’s diplomatic style: multi-track diplomacy.

6
In this crisis, Qatar pursued three confident diplomatic paths.

The first was its immediate and firm response to the aggression. It summoned Iranian Ambassador Ali Saleh Abadi and delivered an official protest. Officials affirmed Qatar retains all diplomatic and legal avenues to hold Iran accountable.

Less than two hours after the attack, a high-level press conference was held, led by Minister Majid Al-Ansari, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. He asserted Qatar’s right to respond appropriately under international law.
Lieutenant General Shayiq Misfer Al-Hajri, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, explained how the Iranian missiles were intercepted at sea before reaching land. Foreign bases had been preemptively evacuated.
The Interior Ministry confirmed the country’s security remained stable, with minor fires from falling debris swiftly controlled, and no injuries reported.

Qatar’s institutions were fully prepared and responded with distinction—on two fronts: defense and political/legal management. The entire Gulf, indeed the world, stood with Qatar. The issue reached the UN Security Council, yet Qatar reserved its right to respond.

7
In a second track, Qatar did not abandon its longstanding role as a principled mediator in global crises—one that earned it respect as a neutral peacemaker. Even amid the storm, Qatar balanced its diplomacy between Iran and the U.S., working to halt the conflict.

President Trump himself called Emir Tamim directly, imploring him to intervene. Though Qatar had just endured an attack, the Emir and his country were ready. They did not let the crisis stop them from playing one of the world’s most critical diplomatic roles at a perilous moment.

The world awaited Qatari diplomacy to secure a ceasefire—and it did, as always, swiftly and successfully. The region—and the world—owes much to Qatar. Without it, the Gulf might now be drowning in blood. Doha played a key role in saving the region, befitting its high diplomatic standing.

8
Doha navigated the crisis’s two tracks, then embarked on a third: Gaza. Qatar continued its unceasing mediation there, now bolstered by its strengthened global stature after absorbing the Iranian attack and brokering the Iran-Israel ceasefire. It quickly leveraged that success to save the people of Gaza from a daily onslaught of death and destruction. They have no true champion after God but Doha.

The region now awaits a political breakthrough that Qatari diplomacy may soon deliver. As President Trump said yesterday at the NATO summit in The Hague: “A breakthrough in Gaza is near.”

That anticipated achievement—an end to the war in Gaza—has eluded others, as Israel has failed to achieve any real victory. Once again, the world looks to Qatar, and, God willing, it shall act.

Through the wisdom of its people, their intelligence, and their love for peace, Qatar continues to be a force for good. May God bless Qatar—its people, its leadership, its land, and its skies.