Photo by currybet
Recently, it was uncovered that Qatar, a Middle Eastern country, has ties to Hamas. Hamas is a Palestinian terrorist group, which seeks to eradicate the Israeli state. Qatar provides funding for Hamas.
Per CNN, “‘Qatar is quite important for Hamas,’ said H.A. Hellyer, a senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. ‘Qatar provides strong financial aid to the occupied Palestinian territories and is a safe haven for a number of Hamas leaders.’”
Those countries that had ties to Qatar have severed the partnerships and have put a blockade in place.
Al Jazeera reports, “The dispute between Qatar and the Gulf’s Arab countries escalated recently over a hack of Qatar’s state-run news agency. It has spiralled since.”
President Trump expressed the importance of the diplomatic ties among the countries in the Gulf Coast Middle East countries.
BBC explains, “Mr Trump stressed the importance of countries in the region working together, the White House said.”
This was the culmination of a dispute that had been in the process for years. Years ago, Qatar was accused of their ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran.
CNN states, “The announcement was the culmination of a feud that had been simmering for years. The nine countries accused Doha of assisting terrorist organizations, providing support for the Muslim Brotherhood and of being far too cozy with Iran.”
Egypt called for the Qatari diplomats to return home within 48 hours of the first day.
Al Jazeera reports, “Egypt’s foreign ministry says it has given the Qatari ambassador in Cairo 48 hours to leave the country and has ordered its own envoy in Doha to return home, also within two days.”
The United Arab Emirates explained that Qatar sympathizers will not be tolerated and would be punished.
Per BBC, “‘Strict and firm action will be taken against anyone who shows sympathy or any form of bias towards Qatar, or against anyone who objects to the position of the United Arab Emirates, whether it be through the means of social media, or any type of written, visual or verbal form,’ UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi was quoted as saying by Gulf News.”
Qatar is number 20 on Open Doors World Watch List of the worst persecutors in the world.
Open Doors explains, “Believers are subject to the death penalty in this nation.”
Please pray for an end to Islamic extremist funding in Qatar. Pray for an end to this conflict between Qatar and neighboring countries. Finally, pray for believers to be bold despite the persecution they face.
CNN: What the Qatar crisis means for Hamas
Al Jazeera: Qatar-Gulf crisis: All the latest updates – Week 1
BBC: Qatar crisis: UAE threatens sympathisers with prison
