Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza and its far-reaching geopolitical consequences across the Middle East and beyond dominated discussions at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum in Doha.
Senior political figures and officials warned on Saturday that the conflict is hastening the collapse of international norms and reshaping regional power balances, while also pushing the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of global diplomacy.
Iran Warns of Collapse of Legal and Moral Order
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking shortly after indirect talks with the United States in Oman, described Palestine as the central strategic issue shaping the future of the Middle East.
He warned that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its broader regional posture are undermining the foundations of international law.
“The Palestinian question is the defining test of justice in West Asia and beyond,” Araghchi said, calling it the moral and strategic compass of the region.
Condemning the war, he said the devastation in Gaza amounted to the deliberate destruction of civilian life on a massive scale, adding that it had “wounded the conscience of humanity” and exposed the failure of global powers to protect civilians.
According to Araghchi, the consequences extend far beyond Gaza. He warned that impunity for attacks on civilians risks replacing international law with force as the guiding principle of global relations.
Call for Sanctions and Accountability
Araghchi argued that Israel’s actions form part of a broader regional strategy aimed at weakening neighbouring states and entrenching permanent inequality, while expanding its military capabilities without meaningful oversight.
He pointed to Israeli military operations across multiple countries in 2025, as well as attacks on aid flotillas in Mediterranean waters, as evidence of a widening regional footprint.
Calling for coordinated international action, Araghchi urged governments to impose targeted sanctions on Israel, including an immediate arms embargo, suspend military and intelligence cooperation, and pursue legal accountability for violations of international law.
He stressed that Palestine is not merely a humanitarian issue but a strategic one, saying lasting regional stability depends on ending occupation and building a system based on sovereignty and equality.
US Talks and Regional Security
In comments to Al Jazeera Arabic after the forum, Araghchi confirmed that Iran and the United States have agreed to hold a second round of talks, although no date has yet been set. He said both sides believe the talks should take place soon.
Asked about the risk of war with the US, Araghchi said the possibility always exists, but Iran remains prepared for both peace and conflict.
He also sought to reassure regional countries, saying Iran has made clear that any response to a US attack would target American forces in the region, not neighbouring states.
Warning Against Preventing Palestinian Statehood
Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer bin Mohammed Al Thani, chairman of the Al Jazeera Media Network, said Israel’s assault marks a turning point for the Palestinian cause.
He warned that the occupation is attempting to permanently reshape realities on the ground by displacing Gaza’s population and expanding settlements in Gaza and the West Bank to block the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He also highlighted the toll on journalists, saying Al Jazeera has paid a heavy price, with reporters targeted for seeking to report the truth. Despite the risks, he said the network remains committed to its mission.
Red Sea Tensions and Global Instability
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s war on Gaza and rising tensions in the Red Sea are unfolding alongside a broader breakdown of the international system.
He described the Palestinian crisis as an extreme example of inhumanity and warned that the failure to achieve a durable two-state solution risks prolonging instability across the region and beyond.
Mohamud said the post-World War II international order is weakening, with global institutions under threat as power increasingly overrides international law.
He also linked regional instability to interference in Red Sea affairs, warning that threats to Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity endanger trade routes and security across Africa.
‘Historic Rupture’ in Global Politics
Burhanettin Duran, head of Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, said Israel’s war on Gaza reflects a deeper transformation in global politics.
“The world has already crossed into a new phase,” he said, describing Gaza as a stark symbol of a historic rupture in international governance.
Duran warned that genocide has returned to global politics as a tolerated reality, with institutions designed to prevent such crimes repeatedly failing.
He also noted that modern conflicts extend beyond physical battlefields into information and digital spaces, shaping narratives and public perception.
Calling for justice to become the organising principle of the international system, Duran said lasting stability cannot be imposed through force alone. He outlined Türkiye’s approach of promoting regional solutions to regional problems, while urging urgent action to end the war and prevent forced displacement in Gaza.