US slams Qatar support for Hamas

Qatar is the master of playing all sides, warn Republican congress representatives

ARepublican-led House panel delivered a blunt bipartisan warning to Qatar on Wednesday, backing legislation that would slap sanctions on any countries or individuals providing financial and material support to the Islamic militant group Hamas.

The Foreign Affairs Committee passed the bill by voice vote, setting the stage for the full House to consider the measure. The bill specifically criticised Qatar for having backed Hamas and hosting senior members of the militant group.

The legislation cited a March 2014 Treasury Department report that said Qatar “has for many years openly financed Hamas.”

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Bahrain broke ties with Qatar earlier this year over allegations it funds terrorism. President Donald Trump echoed the accusation.

In late June, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told the committee the crisis between the Gulf States and Qatar presented an opportunity to tell Qatar to “quit funding Hamas, quit doing these things in Gaza that they are doing.”

Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Dan Donovan of New York said last month that “Qatar is the master of playing all sides.”

The country, they wrote in an op-ed published in The Hill newspaper, has used an “innovative approach” to avoid being punished by the US and European nations for backing terrorists groups:

“Pursue good relations with the US, make false promises about combating terror, lavishly fund western universities and business projects — all while quietly financing and promoting terror, allying with Iran, and leveraging an American airbase as an insurance policy against punishment for promoting terror,” the congressmen wrote.

Donovan said on Wednesday that Hamas has been “intertwined with Iran ideologically, politically and militarily.” Qatar, he added, “now has a strategic opportunity to sever itself from Hamas and by extension, Iran, which is a state sponsor of terrorism.”