Hamas: Qatar hasn’t cut off our financial aid

Islamist group denies report that emirate temporarily halted financial aid to Hamas in wake of the Doha’s rapprochement with Cairo.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
(L R) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal arrive for a meeting in Doha. (photo credit: REUTERS)
(L R) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal arrive for a meeting in Doha.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas denied on Sunday that Qatar has decided to halt financial aid to the movement.
A report in a Kuwaiti newspaper claimed in the past week that Qatar has temporarily halted financial aid to Hamas in wake of the emirate’s rapprochement with Egypt.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said that the report was completely untrue.
He denied that Qatar was exerting pressure on Hamas to change its policy toward Egypt.
“Hamas does not meddle in the internal affairs of Egypt,” Zahar said. “Nor does Hamas pose a threat to Egypt’s national security.”
Zahar welcomed the rapprochement between Qatar and Egypt.
“We are against wasting Arab efforts on internal differences, while the enemy is waging war on us and confiscating our rights in Jerusalem,” he said.