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Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, arrived in Qatar on Tuesday, a day after Doha hosted two summits, one for Gulf Cooperation Council leaders and the other for members of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to discuss Israel’s attack on Doha on Sep. 9 and express support for Qatar. Coming a week too late and passing by Israel first to express solidarity there, his reassurances may not have the desired effect.

While the GCC gathering was behind closed doors, the wider summit was public, lasting several hours. Representatives of the 57 Arab and Muslim states, accounting for about 2 billion people, gathered in the tiny emirate to express their unconditional support for Qatar. Without exception, speakers roundly condemned Israeli leaders for the unprovoked violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and expressed disappointment that the US, a friend of both Israel and Qatar, had failed to prevent it.

Qatar has been mediating the conflict between Israel and Hamas, together with Egypt and the US, and has hosted Hamas interlocutors at the explicit request of Washington, consistent with Israel’s wishes. Israel has never asked Qatar to expel Hamas’ representatives.

The statements issued following the two summits reinforced those sentiments and suggested several ways to go about preventing future similar attacks, which Israeli leaders have suggested are likely, despite public US statements to the contrary.

The GCC leaders, in particular, were specific on the likely course of action they envisioned.

Without exception, speakers roundly condemned Israeli leaders for the unprovoked violation of Qatar’s sovereignty

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

First, since Qatar and other GCC countries are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty they signed in 2000, the leaders expressed “full solidarity” with Qatar and their readiness to invoke the treaty to support any measures requested by Doha. They put “all their capabilities” at Qatar’s disposal on any course of action it deems necessary to “safeguard its security, stability and sovereignty against any threats.”

Second, they stressed that “GCC security is indivisible,” as the GCC Charter and Mutual Defense Treaty stipulate. They directed the Joint Defense Council and the Higher Military Committee to urgently convene in Doha to “assess the defense posture of GCC states and sources of threat in light of Israel’s aggression against Qatar.” They also directed the GCC Unified Military Command to activate “mechanisms for GCC joint defense and deterrence.”

Third, they warned that the “wanton Israeli aggression against the brotherly state of Qatar” represented a “direct threat” to regional security and stability and undermined efforts for regional peace. Continuing such aggressive policies threatens the future of “existing agreements and understandings” with Israel, as such aggressions carry “dangerous repercussions for the entire region.” This is a clear reference to the need to reassess agreements already in place between Israel and several Arab and Muslim countries, something made explicit in the public session by Egypt and other countries with long-standing agreements with Israel.

Fourth, GCC leaders called on the UN Security Council, the wider international community and specifically its “key players” — a reference to the US in this case — to condemn Israel’s aggression, which threatens international peace and security. They called on them to take “decisive steps” to stop and deter Israel’s aggression, which has “eradicated” respect for international law and the authority of international institutions. They called for international sanctions against Israel to deter future attacks.

Fifth, linking Israel’s attack on Qatar to its actions in Gaza, the GCC leaders said that the Sep. 9 attack could obstruct Doha’s “relentless” efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire, release hostages and detainees, and resume humanitarian aid.

The US needs to take decisive action to ensure it does not happen again despite Netanyahu’s statements to the contrary

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

While both the GCC and Arab and Islamic summits generally avoided direct criticism of the US, the disappointment with its inaction was palpable. There was a shared belief that the US could have prevented the attack on Qatar and, now that it has happened, it is not enough that Washington distances itself from this unrestrained behavior. Instead, it needs to take more decisive action to ensure that it does not happen again despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements to the contrary.

Rubio’s trip to the region appeared aimed at reassuring Qatar and its neighbors of US support. But the fact that it came a whole week after the attack blunted that message. That was made worse by media coverage of his visit to Israel, including his expressions of “unconditional support” and participation in digging a controversial tunnel that Israel is building under Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Construction of the tunnel is in clear breach of international law, which considers East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and prohibits changing the legal and historical status quo in the holy city. The digging of the tunnel is also seen by Muslims the world over as undermining the foundations of Islam’s third-holiest place.

The irony was not lost on many that the US secretary of state decided to go first to Israel, the aggressor, to declare his solidarity, after which he visited Qatar, presumably also to show support.

Blind support for Israel is undermining the US role in the region and damaging its global reputation. There is no doubt that Washington has a lot of reassuring to do not only in Qatar, but in the region at large. Equally important, it needs to take constructive action, which so far it has avoided, to end the conflict in Gaza and on the wider Israel-Palestine issue. It needs to join the global consensus to end this conflict once and for all.

• Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC. X: @abuhamad1