The growing tension between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, especially the Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites like Natanz and Fordo in 2025, have raised questions about the unity of the Islamic world. Unity against Israel is often heard among the leaders and public of Islamic countries, but in reality this unity has proved to be extremely difficult to achieve. What are the reasons why the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an organization of 57 Islamic countries, is unable to take a strong common stand against Israel? Let us analyze this complex issue on the basis of facts.
Historical and ideological differences
The biggest obstacle to unity among Islamic countries is their historical and ideological differences. The deep gulf between the Sunni and Shia communities, especially the rivalry between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shia), divides the Islamic world. For example, the 2015 conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen further deepened this division. Saudi Arabia and its allies, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are reluctant to accept Iran's leadership when it comes to taking action against Israel, as they are concerned about Iran's regional influence.
Normalization process with Israel
The UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, which further weakened Islamic unity. Saudi Arabia, too, though not formally recognizing Israel, has been reported to be working in secret with Israel until 2025. These countries see Israel as a strategic partner against Iran, weakening the common stance of Islamic countries on the Palestine issue. The OIC condemned Israel's attacks on Iran in June 2025, but the Abraham Accords countries did not give concrete support to this statement.
Economic and geopolitical interests
A major reason for the lack of unity among Islamic countries is their different economic and geopolitical interests. Countries like Turkey and Qatar, which support groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, are in conflict with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which consider these groups a threat. In addition, many Islamic countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, which have reached peace agreements with Israel, prioritize their economic stability and the military assistance they receive from the US.
Amid the global energy crisis in 2025, oil-producing Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have tried to keep their energy policies separate from regional conflicts. These countries avoid supporting military action against Israel, as this could further destabilize oil prices in the global market.
Influence of external powers
The influence of global powers such as the US, Russia and China also hinders the unity of Islamic countries. The US, which is Israel's biggest supporter, provides military and economic assistance to many Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE. On the other hand, Iran is in alliance with Russia and China, which are trying to reduce the influence of the US. In this global power game, Islamic countries are divided into different camps, making it difficult to formulate a common strategy.
Disagreement on Palestine issue
The rhetoric of Islamic countries on Palestine may be similar, but at the policy level, the differences are clear. Iran and its supporting groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, advocate armed resistance against Israel, while countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt emphasize a two-nation solution and diplomatic efforts. An emergency meeting of the OIC was held in June 2025 after Israeli attacks in Gaza, but Saudi Arabia and the UAE called for a focus on humanitarian aid rather than military action.
Internal challenges
Many Islamic countries are grappling with their internal problems, such as economic crisis, terrorism and anti-regime movements. For example, the weak economy and political instability of countries like Pakistan and Lebanon prevent them from being part of any major coalition against Israel. Furthermore, the structural weaknesses of the OIC, such as lack of consensus and effective leadership, prevent it from becoming a strong forum.
Conclusion
The failure of Islamic countries to unite against Israel is due to a mix of ideological, economic, geopolitical and historical reasons. Sunni-Shia divisions, normalization with Israel, the influence of external powers and internal challenges make this unity impossible. The Iran-Israel tension in June 2025 has once again divided the Islamic world, with some countries standing with Iran while others are secretly collaborating with Israel. In the future, only if Islamic countries are able to unify their priorities, can they make an effective stand against Israel.
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