As Qatar and Turkey are set to play a key role in US President Donald J. Trump's "Board of Peace" for the Gaza Strip, it is important to note that both countries do not believe in any peace process between Israel and the Arab and Islamic countries, and they continue to embrace and sponsor Islamists who support Islamist terrorists.
On January 18, leaders of the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), described as an "independent" body of Islamic theologians, met in Istanbul, Turkey, to discuss a number of issues related to the Arab and Islamic countries.
The IUMS, a largely Sunni group that also has offices in Dublin, Ireland, is closely associated with the governments of Qatar and Turkey. Since its founding, IUMS has incited its followers to terrorism and Jihad (holy war). Its chairman, Ali Al-Qaradaghi, said in a recent interview that Qatar and Turkey are "our biggest supporters and founders."
After the meeting in Istanbul, the Board of Trustees of IUMS issued a fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) that "affirms the prohibition of normalization with the Zionist enemy [Israel] in all its forms." The fatwa called on Islamic countries and the Arab League state members to "take a unified stance in support of Palestine in international forums and human rights institutions and to sever all relations with this [Israeli] occupying and usurping entity."
The Islamic theologians seemed to reject calls for disarming Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups in accordance with Trump's 20-point plan for peace in the Gaza Strip. In a statement published after the meeting, they said that they are "following events taking place on the global and Islamic scene and condemn the phenomenon of aggression and military interventions in the internal affairs of countries."
Notably, no Arab or Islamic country has expressed readiness to participate in efforts to demilitarize the Gaza Strip and turn it into a terror-free zone. So long as Hamas directs its attacks only against Israel, the Arabs and Muslims do not view the terror group as a threat to their national security.
The Islamic scholars, in addition, voiced opposition to the recent decision by the Trump administration to label certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt as terrorist groups.
According to John Hurley, Undersecretary of the US Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence:
"The Muslim Brotherhood has inspired, nurtured, and funded terrorist groups like Hamas, that are direct threats to the safety and security of the American people and our allies."
The founding chairman of IUMS, the late Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, was an extremist Egyptian Islamic cleric who lived in Qatar for many years and was known for his support for Islamist terrorism. According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center:
"Qaradawi is mainly known as the key figure in shaping the concept of violent Jihad and the one who allowed carrying out terror attacks, including suicide bombing attacks, against Israeli citizens, US forces in Iraq, and some of the Arab regimes. Because of that, he was banned from entering Western countries and some Arab countries."
In 2015, speaking about Hamas, Al-Qaradaghi, the chairman of IUMS stated:
"We view Hamas from the perspective of the Palestinian cause, which must remain the pre-eminent cause not just for the union but for all Arabs, Muslims, and free humanitarians in the world. Hamas is defending the rights of the nation, and the nation must stand by those who defend its preeminent cause."
Reminder: Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, does not recognize Israel's right to exist and was the perpetrator of the October 7, 2023 massacres of more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and the wounding of thousands. Hamas's 1988 charter opens with a quote from Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna: "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam obliterates it, just as it obliterated others before it."
In 2025, IUMS issued another fatwa legitimizing Jihad against the "Zionist entity" and its allies involved in the war in the Gaza Strip, stating:
"We clarify to the people of Islam and all its countries the obligation to wage jihad against the Zionist entity and all those who participate with it... This is an obligation incumbent first upon the people of Palestine, then the neighboring countries (Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon), then all Arab and Islamic countries."
It also called on governments to intervene militarily and economically, prohibited any support or cooperation with Israel, and urged the formation of a unified Islamic military alliance.
Qatar and Turkey, which now serve as the unofficial representatives of Hamas on Trump's Board of Peace, will undoubtedly do their utmost to ensure that the terror group continues to exist, both as a political and military entity, and play a key role in the future management of the Gaza Strip. By endorsing and hosting Islamists who prohibit normalization with the "Zionist entity," Qatar and Turkey should be invited to join a Board of Jihadists, not a board whose stated goal is to achieve peace and stability and pave the way for normalization between Israel and Arabs and Muslims.
The inclusion of Qatar and Turkey in the Board of Peace will only promote Jihad against Israel and its allies and empower other Islamist terror groups.
Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
