The Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Monday that Hamas is a resistance movement working to unify the Palestinian ranks not a terrorist organization.
In a press conference with his French counterpart the Qatari minister explained that Hamas’s presence in Qatar is aimed at fostering the reconciliation negotiations with Fatah noting that the leadership of the Movement’s political bureau is based in Gaza not Doha.
He added that Qatar’s efforts in the reconstruction of Gaza are clear and transparent and are implemented through international mechanisms affirming that Qatar supports the Palestinian people and national reconciliation and does not take the side of one particular faction.
He said “Hamas is not listed in the Gulf nations’ list of terrorism so why is there an objection to hosting it? Hamas is a resistance movement and we deal with it as a political faction.”
Speaking to Russia Today TV channel in Moscow on Saturday the Qatari minister expressed his denouncement of considering dealing with Hamas a charge.
Qatar has been recently subjected to a campaign of incitement and pressure. Several sources revealed that one of the main reasons for this campaign is Qatar’s support for Palestine and hosting of Hamas leaders which was confirmed by the statements of the Saudi foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir and other Gulf officials who openly demanded Qatar to stop its support for the Movement.
