Qatar: "We Are an Honest Mediator in the Middle East... Not Supporting Hamas"

US Ambassador to Qatar to Contribute Article to WSJ on 29th

Qatar has refuted Israel's claim that it supports the Palestinian armed faction Hamas while referring to itself as the "honest mediator of the Middle East."

Qatar King Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left)
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Mashal bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar's ambassador to the United States, stated in an op-ed published on the 29th (local time) in the American daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that false information and propaganda are spreading regarding the purpose of Qatar's financial support for Hamas' political office in Doha and the Palestinians.

Ambassador Al-Thani argued that the claims that Qatar is a patron and funder of Hamas are not true, explaining that the Hamas political office in Qatar was opened in 2012 at the request of the United States to establish an unofficial communication channel with Hamas.

Al-Thani emphasized, "The existence of the Hamas office should not be confused with support," stating that Qatar is an honest mediator in the Middle East and does not support Hamas. He added that Qatar's funds are used to supply electricity to the 2 million residents of the Gaza Strip and that all of Qatar's humanitarian aid is delivered directly to Palestinian households.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, since the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on the 7th, which triggered the war, Israeli officials have criticized Qatar's support for the Gaza Strip, saying it indirectly helped Hamas build its military capabilities.