DOHA: Qatar mentioned on Wednesday (Jan 24) it was “appalled” by remarks attributed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was allegedly caught on tape calling the emirate’s function as mediator within the Gaza war “problematic”.
At a gathering this week with the families of hostages held in Gaza, Netanyahu blamed Qatar for financing Hamas and mentioned he was upset at a US choice to increase the presence of a army base within the Gulf state, in line with Israeli information outlet Channel 12.
Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, was one of the mediators of a weeklong truce deal in November that led to the discharge of 105 hostages.
“You do not hear me thanking Qatar … who’re primarily no completely different from the United Nations or Purple Cross, and much more problematic. I’ve no illusions with reference to them,” Netanyahu purportedly says in a recording obtained by Channel 12.
“They’ve the means to place strain (on Hamas). And why? As a result of they finance them,” he continues, including that he was “very offended” at Washington’s choice to resume its base settlement with Qatar.
In an announcement posted on the social media platform X, Qatari overseas ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari mentioned his nation was “appalled by the alleged remarks attributed to the Israeli Prime Minister”.
“These remarks if validated, are irresponsible and damaging to the efforts to save lots of harmless lives, however should not shocking,” the assertion mentioned.
Qatar remains to be concerned in talks geared toward securing a new hostage deal, and Ansari mentioned Netanyahu’s remarks had been detrimental to these efforts.
“If the reported remarks are discovered to be true, the Israeli PM would solely be obstructing and undermining the mediation course of, for causes that seem to serve his political profession as an alternative of prioritising saving harmless lives, together with Israeli hostages,” the assertion mentioned
It added that Netanyahu ought to concentrate on releasing the hostages fairly than “regarding himself with Qatar”s strategic relations with the USA”.
Qatar is residence to the regional headquarters of the Pentagon’s Central Command on the al-Udeid Air Base, and permits common shore visits by US naval vessels patrolling the Gulf area.
It additionally hosts the political management of Hamas and lately has despatched tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} in support to the Gaza Strip, which has been managed by the Palestinian Islamist motion since 2007.
