Rishi Sunak greets Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Photo: Holly Adams/Getty Images
Rishi Sunak faces calls to introduce sanctions against Qatar for continuing to host Hamas leaders who led the attack on Israel.
Mark Wallace, the former US ambassador to the UN, said that «most of Qatar's wealth is in London» and called for a freeze on assets linked to the Qatari state and royal family «until the Qataris hand over the worst of the worst.» leaders of terrorism in the world.»
Mr Wallace, who now runs a US-based counter-extremism project, also called for Britain's diplomatic ties with Doha to be suspended if the regime fails to apprehend Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas member. political leader and hand him over to American or Israeli authorities.
Bob Blackman, joint secretary of the 1922 Conservative Committee and deputy chairman of the all-party parliamentary group against anti-Semitism, said: “I agree with him.”
< Along with Frances Townsend, who was George W. Bush's counterterrorism adviser, Mr. Wallace insisted that Haniyeh should be targeted in Doha, similar to the US killing of Osama bin Laden, if he was allowed to continue leading Hamas with impunity. from Qatar.
Architects of Terror
For years, the architects of Hamas terror have presided over a bloodthirsty outfit from five-star luxury in Qatar, which has said it blames last weekend's massacre on Israel. Footage last week showed Haniyeh, 61, smiling and praying from the comfort of his air-conditioned office in Doha to commemorate the massacre of Israelis.
In the video, Haniyeh and his 12 henchmen are dressed in fresh clothes. in pressed suits, watching the horror unfold on a wide-screen TV. The group then gathers behind Haniya to kneel in prayer on the plush gray carpet. Qatar denies supporting Hamas and says the group is simply part of the reality on the ground.
Doha is seen in Whitehall as a UK ally, meaning there is likely to be resistance to calls for sanctions or a downgrade in diplomatic relations. A source who discussed the matter with Qatari officials said Doha had privately insisted that it was hosting Hamas leadership on its soil only to avoid them moving to Iran and further expanding Tehran's influence in the Middle East.
A 2019 Congressional Research Service report states: «U.S. officials told members of Congress that Qatar's influence on Hamas could be helpful in reducing the conflict between Hamas and Israel, and that Qatar has promised that none of its aid to the Palestinians will go to Hamas.» .In 2017, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, now Prime Minister of Qatar, said that “Hamas’ presence [in Doha] is coordinated with the US and countries in the region, and is part of our efforts to mediate between Palestinian factions to achieve reconciliation.”
Mr Wallace, who called on the US government to take similar action, said: “The Qataris should be ostracized and their role in the world should be forever changed given what has happened. But right now there are innocents [being held hostage in Gaza] and the leaders of the massacre that orchestrated the capture of these innocents are in Qatar.
«Extraordinary Role»
“The UK plays a huge role in relations with Qatar. Much of Qatar's wealth is located in London. It should be frozen… No assets should be accessed, no funds should be repatriated to the Qataris. Any assets in London should be frozen until the Qataris hand over the worst of the worst terrorist leaders they host.
“Hopefully if they do, we can use these leaders to convince their countrymen in the Gaza Strip Take off your clothes to free the hostages. How can the British authorities, in such circumstances, allow the Qataris to act with impunity from a business or diplomatic point of view in London?
“The Qatari authorities must arrest every Hamas member and hand them over to US and Israeli authorities. Do you think we would let Bin Laden sit in a luxury office building in Doha? Would we allow the ISIS leadership to sit in a luxury condominium in Doha? The answer is no.”
As Israel prepares for a ground invasion and drops thousands of bombs across the region, Hamas is urging residents of northern Gaza to stay home.
But those responsible for what will likely result in the deaths of thousands of civilians live in wealth and security. Several Hamas leaders moved to Qatar after a falling out with Syria, where they had previously been involved when Palestinian refugees participated in the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's regime in 2011.
Khaled Meshal was also featured in a video from Doha last week: Former Hamas leader and now second-in-command.
'Long-lasting relationship'
Mashaal called for a day of jihad on Friday, saying: “Go to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world.
He fled to Qatar in 2012 and was seen working out at a prestigious gym and overeating.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The UK and its allies have a strong relationship with Qatar. Without Qatar's involvement in such sensitive issues as the conflict in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, as well as in ensuring broader regional stability, it would not have been able to find a solution to this type of tragic conflict.»
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Qatari affairs have been referred to the London Embassy for comment.
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