A set of damning reports regarding Qatar’s political leadership and media has uncovered concerning trends in media coverage of Israel and expressions of support for Hamas terrorism.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), based in the U.S., has made startling revelations about the pro-Hamas writings of Majed Al-Ansari, who serves as the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman and advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister. These revelations also extend to incitement against Israel within Qatari media, including Al Jazeera, a prominent network.
The disclosure regarding Al-Ansari surfaced just before a Qatari delegation’s visit to the U.S. for the sixth annual U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Washington. Despite these revelations, Al-Ansari was welcomed by Bill Russo, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs.
A notable excerpt from Al-Ansari’s column in May 2021, published in the state-owned newspaper Al-Sharq, expressed support for Hamas during Israel’s Operation ‘Guardian of the Walls,’ which targeted Hamas in response to rocket attacks. Such sentiments reflect the views of the ruling Al-Thani family.
Rich Goldberg, a prominent U.S. expert on Qatar, emphasized that Al-Ansari’s views align with those of the Al-Thani family. This raises concerns about accountability within Qatar’s media landscape, particularly regarding Al Jazeera’s coverage.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on Al-Ansari’s support for Hamas, indicating potential implications for Qatar’s international image. The U.S. State Department emphasized ongoing cooperation with Qatar but reiterated its stance of not engaging with Hamas.
Qatari media outlets, including Al-Sharq, have been criticized for their pro-terrorism stance and anti-Israel incitement. These criticisms have been further highlighted by MEMRI’s findings, which underscore the persistence of such narratives in Qatari media.
Despite calls from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to mitigate Al Jazeera’s incitement against Israel, the network appears to have disregarded these requests.
