Many Arab countries see the weakening of Hamas—and the sidelining of Doha’s influence—as a net gain for regional stability.By Hezy LaingPublicly, Arab leaders have condemned Israel’s recent airstrike in Doha that targeted senior Hamas officials.Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others issued strong statements denouncing the attack as a violation of sovereignty and international law.However, behind closed doors, the regional response is more nuanced—and in some cases, quietly supportive.According to analysts at the Carnegie Endowment, the strike exposed a deeper truth: many Gulf leaders view Hamas as a destabilizing force and have grown frustrated with Qatar’s role as its patron and mediator.While Qatar has positioned itself as a key broker in ceasefire talks, its support for Hamas has long been a source of tension with other Arab states, especially those aligned with the Abraham Accords like the UAE and Bahrain.Privately, officials in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are said to be relieved that Israel took decisive action against Hamas leadership, even if it meant breaching Qatari territory.The operation demonstrated Israel’s reach and willingness to act unilaterally, reinforcing its deterrence posture in a region where Iran-backed proxies have long exploited safe havens.One Gulf commentator noted that “there is no longer a force capable of threatening Israel,” underscoring the strategic recalibration underway.Many Arab countries see the weakening of Hamas—and the sidelining of Doha’s influence—as a net gain for regional stability.Many have long been wary of Qatar’s outsized influence, especially in regional politics, media, and diplomacy.Qatar is a small state with a population under 3 million, yet it punches far above its weight thanks to a combination of wealth, strategic alliances, and ideological positioning.The tension surrounding Qatar stems from a complex mix of ideological, political, and strategic factors that have long unsettled its Arab neighbors.One major source of friction is Qatar’s support for radical Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.While Qatar views these groups as legitimate political actors, countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE see them as existential threats to their regimes.They fear that Qatar’s backing of political Islam could inspire domestic opposition and destabilize their internal order.Another point of contention is Qatar’s funding of Al Jazeera, the extreme Islamic media powerhouse in the Arab world.During the Arab Spring, its coverage was seen as fueling revolutionary fervor, which made many governments deeply uncomfortable and suspicious of Qatar’s intentions.Qatar’s foreign policy also sets it apart. Unlike most Gulf states, it maintains independent ties with Iran, hosts U.S. military bases, and engages with Islamist factions.This balancing act frustrates neighbors who prefer a unified front against Iran and its regional proxies.Its role as a diplomatic mediator adds another layer of complexity. Qatar has positioned itself as a key broker in regional conflicts, from Gaza ceasefires to Taliban negotiations.While this earns it international prestige, it also sidelines traditional powers like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who resent Qatar’s growing influence and ability to shape outcomes.These tensions reached a boiling point in 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and undermining regional stability.The blockade ultimately failed, and Qatar emerged more resilient, strengthening its ties with Turkey and Iran.In essence, the strike has reshuffled power dynamics in the Gulf.It has diminished Qatar’s leverage, exposed the limits of Arab unity, and signaled that Israel’s strategic priorities will not be constrained by diplomatic niceties.For many Arab leaders, that message—delivered in 36 seconds of precision firepower—was quietly welcomed.The post Arab leaders secretly pleased to see Hamas destruction & Qatar’s humiliation appeared first on World Israel News.