Qatari support for Hamas

Qatar is a key financial backer and ally of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. Qatar has transferred more than $1.8 billion to Hamas.[1][2]

In 2012, Qatar has hosted the Hamas party leadership when Hamas head Khaled Meshal relocated from Syria to Qatar.[3] The current head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has resided in Doha since 2016.[4]

History

In 2007, Qatar was, with Turkey, the only country to back Hamas after the group ousted the Palestinian Authority from the Gaza Strip.[3] The relationship between Hamas and Qatar strengthened in 2008 and 2009 when Meshaal was invited to attend the Doha Summit where he was seated next to the then Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who pledged $250 million in aid to Hamas-controlled Gaza.[5]

In 2012, Qatar's then Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, became the first head of state to visit Gaza under Hamas rule. He pledged to raise $400 million for reconstruction.[6]

2023 Israel–Hamas war

Following the Hamas surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, and the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Qatar's hosting of the Hamas political office in Doha has come under greater scrutiny. Speaking to the media in Doha alongside Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "there can be no more business as usual with Hamas."[7][8][9]

See also

References
  1. Ehl, David (May 15, 2021). "Who is Hamas? Who supports Hamas? What you need to know". Deutsche Welle.
  2. "Qatar, Iran, Turkey and beyond: The galaxy of Hamas supporters". France 24. 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  3. Gidda, Mirren (July 25, 2014). "Hamad Still Has Some Friends Left". Time.
  4. "Shadowy Hamas official with ties to Iran tapped to lead Gaza". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. "Hamas Ties to Qatar Have Cost". Al-Monitor. April 22, 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016.
  6. Black, Ian; Sherwood, Harriet (October 23, 2012). "Qatari emir's visit to Gaza is a boost for Hamas". The Guardian.
  7. Pamuk, Humeyra; Mills, Andrew; Lewis, Simon; Pamuk, Humeyra (2023-10-13). "Blinken tells Arab leaders 'no more business as usual' with Hamas". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  8. "Hamas Qatar office in spotlight as Gaza war intensifies". France 24. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  9. Hudson, John (2023-10-26). "U.S., Qatar to revisit Doha's ties to Hamas after Gaza hostage crisis". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
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