Qatari defense Minister expresses support for Hamas

Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sa’oud bin Abd Al-Rahman Al Thani posted and hastily deleted an X message this week endorsing Hamas, proclaiming, “We are all Hamas… Oh Al-Quds, revolt and commemorate Al-Qassam!” 

Unearthed by online watchdogs, the post fits a broader pattern of pro-Hamas rhetoric from the minister, a seasoned Qatari official who led the Emiri Diwan before his November appointment.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) exposed additional posts by Al Thani, including assertions that Israel “controls” the US and claims that “Al-Quds is the capital of Palestine.” 

MEMRI’s findings detail years of Al Thani’s support for Hamas, criticism of the US and former President Donald Trump, and advocacy for Qatar to influence American policymakers. 

In a 2021 X exchange, he wrote, “Israel’s control of the US is clear. We must plan how to influence the decision-makers in the US,” responding to a doubtful follower, “With correct planning and a strong will, everything is possible.”

Al Thani’s ties to Hamas extend beyond rhetoric. In 2012, as head of Qatar’s Olympic Committee, he was photographed touring Doha with former Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. 

His rapid deletion of the recent Hamas-supporting post, along with others, suggests a calculated attempt to scrub his public record as scrutiny intensifies.

This incident reflects a broader trend within Qatar’s leadership. In 2024, Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, mother of the Emir, eulogized Yahya Sinwar after his death in Gaza, likening him to John the Baptist and implying Israel’s demise. 

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani led prayers at Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s funeral in August. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari’s past praise of Hamas’s actions further undermines Qatar’s carefully crafted image as an impartial mediator in Middle East conflicts and hostage negotiations.

Qatar’s role as a diplomatic broker is increasingly fraught with contradictions. While Doha positions itself as a neutral facilitator in ceasefire talks and hostage deals, its leadership’s open alignment with Hamas—a designated terrorist organization in many countries—casts a long shadow over its credibility. 

Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political leadership since 2012, providing financial and logistical support under the guise of humanitarian aid, while funneling millions to Gaza projects like Hamad City, often linked to Hamas’s infrastructure. 

This duality fuels skepticism about Qatar’s motives, particularly as it maintains close ties with Western powers, including hosting a major US military base. 

Al Thani’s deleted posts, paired with the Emir’s and other officials’ overt gestures, suggest Qatar is less an honest broker than a state leveraging its wealth and strategic position to bolster Hamas while maintaining a veneer of diplomacy. 

These actions not only complicate regional peace efforts but also risk alienating allies who demand clarity on Doha’s true allegiances.