DOHA: Qatar stated 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 position as mediator within the Gaza conflict “problematic”.
At a gathering this week with the households of hostages held in Gaza, Netanyahu blamed Qatar for financing Hamas and stated he was upset at a US determination to increase the presence of a navy base within the Gulf state, in response to Israeli information outlet Channel 12.
Qatar, together with Egypt and america, was one of many 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 basically no completely different from the United Nations or Crimson Cross, and much more problematic. I’ve no illusions almost about them,” Netanyahu purportedly says in a recording obtained by Channel 12.
“They’ve the means to place stress (on Hamas). And why? As a result of they finance them,” he continues, including that he was “very offended” at Washington’s determination to resume its base settlement with Qatar.
In an announcement posted on the social media platform X, Qatari overseas ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari stated 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 are usually not stunning,” the assertion stated.
Qatar continues to be concerned in talks geared toward securing a new hostage deal, and Ansari stated 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 a substitute of prioritising saving harmless lives, together with Israeli hostages,” the assertion stated
It added that Netanyahu ought to deal with liberating the hostages moderately than “regarding himself with Qatar”s strategic relations with america”.
Qatar is house 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 lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in support to the Gaza Strip, which has been managed by the Palestinian Islamist motion since 2007.
