The GCC’s statement also highlighted the grave violations and attacks being carried out by Israel against Palestinians under the ongoing genocide.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reiterated its condemnation of Iran’s attack on the U.S. Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar during its 49th Extraordinary Meeting, held at the level of foreign ministers in Doha on Tuesday evening, a day after the strike.
Held behind closed doors at the Sheraton Grand Doha, the meeting focused on regional security developments and came amid mounting international condemnation of Iran’s strike on the U.S. military base.
GCC Secretary-General, Jasem Albudaiwi, later held a press briefing, where he read out nine key points from the meeting’s final communique, which started with the Gulf bloc’s rejection of the Iranian attack.
“The Council expressed its deep regret and strong condemnation of the missile attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran[…]This act constitutes a clear, unacceptable and dangerous violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and its airspace by Iran,” Albudaiwi told the press.
Late on Monday, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the base, describing the attack as retaliation for a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites two days earlier.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) had confirmed that its air defences “successfully intercepted a missile attack” and confirmed that there have been no casualties or injuries. The GCC praised the rapid response of Qatari authorities to the attack.
The attack took place amid a major conflict between Iran and Israel that lasted nearly two weeks, ending on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump, with support from Gulf mediator Qatar, brokered a ceasefire.
“The Ministerial Council welcomed the announcement by His Excellency President Donald Trump regarding the ceasefire, emphasising the need for an immediate halt to all military actions,” Albudaiwi said.
“It also praised the efforts of the State of Qatar in mediating and working towards a ceasefire,” he added.
Calls for Gaza ceasefire
The GCC’s statement also highlighted the grave violations and attacks being carried out by Israel against Palestinians under the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Albudaiwi said the GCC renewed its condemnation of the ongoing war while calling for a ceasefire.
“The Council condemned the continuation of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the killing of civilians, stressing its rejection of the occupation’s military escalation in the northern and southern Gaza Strip,” Albudaiwi said.
The GCC has also called on Trump to work towards a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, underlining the need for the resumption of negotiations.
Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. had reached a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel on January 15 following more than a year of stalled negotiations.
Israel then broke the ceasefire on March 18, intensifying its brutality against Palestinians in the besieged enclave while starving its 2.1 million population.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 61,700 Palestinians, mainly women and children, although the figure is believed to be an underestimate with thousands trapped under the rubble.
Local authorities in the Gaza Strip have also been unable to keep pace with the large number of Palestinians killed as Israel persists in its daily killings.
On Tuesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, noted that the Gulf state’s mediation efforts have been ongoing.
