Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has arrived in Amman for high-level talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, just days after an Israeli airstrike on Doha killed six people. The visit marks the emir’s first trip abroad since the September 9 attack, which targeted alleged Hamas leaders in a residential district of the Qatari capital.
Sheikh Tamim was received by King Abdullah, Crown Prince Hussein, and senior Jordanian officials upon landing in Jordan’s capital on Wednesday. The visit follows an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha earlier this week, where leaders condemned the Israeli strike and pledged to strengthen regional defense cooperation.
At the summit, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) committed to activating a joint defense mechanism — a move widely seen as a response to growing regional tensions following the strike.
Reporting from Amman, Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid described the emir’s trip as “an important bilateral visit,” particularly in light of the attack and ongoing U.S. efforts to stabilize relations with Qatar. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Sheikh Tamim in Doha on Tuesday.
Beyond the strike on Doha, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza is also expected to dominate the emir’s discussions with King Abdullah. Jordan, a key player in facilitating humanitarian aid to Palestinians, has maintained a critical stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
“The symbolism is strong,” Bin Javaid noted. “Qatar wants to demonstrate its support for the Palestinian people and its commitment to regional diplomacy.”
Military cooperation and regional coordination ahead of next week’s United Nations General Assembly meetings are expected to be central to the discussions between the two leaders.
You gotta to get ready for sure