Gulf States ‘target Hamas’ through siege of Qatar

The siege of Qatar by some Gulf States and Egypt is targeting the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, a London-based analyst told Quds Press on Friday. “These countries did not dare to mention Hamas on their own blacklists,” explained Ibrahim Hamami, “so they asked Qatar to boycott groups and people listed by the Americans.”

Naming the movement on their own lists would provoke a backlash from the Arab people, he said. “The people support the resistance and reject any moves to criminalise or blacklist it.”

According to Hamami, the Saudi- and UAE-led demands on Qatar give the green light for Hamas to be targeted as part of the international efforts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

A list of demands has been given to Qatar; they have to be met before the siege will be lifted, the boycott group insist.Among the demands is the closure of Al-Jazeera News Network, the closure of the Turkish military base in Qatar and cutting links with the Muslim Brotherhood and other “terrorist” groups, including Hamas.

The siege was imposed on 5 June by an alliance of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. Diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar have been cut ever since due to its alleged “support for terror”.