Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, lashed out at Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, telling CNN that he should be “brought to justice” and accusing Israel of destroying hopes for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani © Mena Today
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, lashed out at Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, telling CNN that he should be “brought to justice” and accusing Israel of destroying hopes for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
His comments came a day after Netanyahu warned Doha and other governments that shelter terrorist leaders: “You must either expel them or put them on trial. Because if you don’t, we will.”
Al-Thani’s outrage is as hypocritical as it is predictable. For years, Qatar has hosted, financed, and legitimized Hamas, offering its leaders safe haven in Doha while providing the group with vast sums of money. It is precisely this policy that has emboldened Hamas and prolonged the conflict in Gaza.
A state sponsor of extremists
Qatar’s support is not limited to Hamas. The tiny Gulf state has a long record of aiding extremist groups across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. From the Taliban in Afghanistan to radical militias in Africa, Doha has used its immense financial resources to build influence through terrorist proxies while posing as a “neutral mediator.”
This is not diplomacy. It is state-sponsored duplicity. By funding and protecting those who sow terror, Qatar cannot credibly claim the mantle of peacemaker.
The claim that Israel’s actions have “killed all hope” for hostage negotiations ignores a deeper truth: there was never any genuine hope as long as Hamas leaders enjoyed safe harbor in Doha. Qatar’s “mediation” is little more than a public-relations exercise, designed to give the emirate prestige on the world stage while concealing its direct complicity in terror financing.
Al-Thani may point the finger at Netanyahu, but Qatar itself is deeply implicated in the cycle of violence. The country’s rulers have chosen to bankroll extremists instead of building real peace.
If Doha truly seeks credibility, it should start not with lectures on morality, but by ending its patronage of terrorists and shutting down the safe haven it has created for them.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he had argued with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday during a "tough" meeting that covered deep disagreements over recent behaviour by each other's country.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson expressed concern on Wednesday over Spain's measures limiting access to Spanish ports and airspace to ships and planes carrying weapons for Israel.
Israel struck the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Wednesday, Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said, in an attack that witnesses said targeted the Houthi defence ministry.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
