Qatar attempting to distance itself from Hamas, looking to West, expert tells ‘Post’

Qatar is publicly attempting to distance itself from Hamas, denying direct funding, according to Dr. Ariel Admoni, a researcher at Ariel University and JISS. This shift is driven by attacks on its oil infrastructure, pushing Qatar to seek financial relationships with Western entities less willing to engage with a country associated with Hamas. Qatar's International Media Office has rejected accusations of funding, claiming they stem from a “sustained campaign involving pro-Israel media.” Admoni notes this is a significant change for Qatar, which hosts Hamas leadership and whose state-funded media reportedly portrays Hamas sympathetically. Qatar's reliance on American financial systems, especially after Iranian attacks impacted its LNG export capacity, necessitates a rebranding effort to secure partnerships, as evidenced by recent meetings with Google and Microsoft executives and a $20 billion partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management.