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Memri
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Unusual Article In Qatari Government Daily Criticizes Iran Following Its Attack On CENTCOM Base In Qatar: We Do Not Fear Conflict With Iran
Iran's June 23, 2025 missile attack on the U.S. CENTCOM Al-Udeid Air Base was a symbolic strike that had been coordinated in advance with the Qatari and American authorities. Its purpose was to allow Iran to save face by responding to the U.S. attack on its nuclear facilities but without causing casualties or damage.[1] The target – Qatar (rather than Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain or Jordan) – was chosen by Iran because this country is an ally, and therefore coordinating the attack with it in advance allowed Iran to avoid the risk of escalation.[2] Moreover, Qatar serves as a mediator between Iran and the U.S. Despite Iran's attack on Qatar's territory, the Qatari media was restrained in its response to this country, and preferred to blame the escalation on Israel.[3] This messaging aligns with the policy of Qatar, which expressed unwavering support for Iran throughout the war with Israel,[4] including after the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.[5] In contrast to this line, the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq published an unusual article in response to the Iranian missile attack on Al-Udeid base, which was removed from the newspaper's website a few hours after its publication. The article, by Sa'ud bin Mubarak Al-Nasser, a researcher of political science and international relations, included criticism of the attack and even a threat of Qatari retaliation. Calling the Iranian strike on Qatari territory "an unjustified escalation" that "directly threatens Qatar's allies," the article emphasized that Qatar "rejects dictates and does not fear conflict when it comes to its honor and sovereignty," that "the era of silence has passed," and that, although Qatar is not an aggressive state, "it is prepared for any possibility." Interception of Iranian missiles over Qatar in video circulated by Qatar's Defense Ministry ( June 26, 2025) The following are translated excerpts from Al-Nasser's article:[6] "At a time when our region is in need of calm, commitment to development, and cooperative bridgebuilding, the State of Qatar was surprised by a criminal Iranian missile attack aimed at the American [CENTCOM] Al-Udeid Air Base, in a clear challenge to the sovereignty of the state, the principles of international law, and the principles of good neighborliness, which are the basis for stability in the Gulf region. "Qatar, with its wise leadership, remains a wise and rational voice in the region. It has invested enormous efforts in neutralizing crises, whether through direct mediation or through support for multilateral humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives. Therefore, striking Qatar is a strike on the role of the mediator, and an attack on its territory is an attack on the logic of balance and peace. What increases the severity of this act is that it was carried out against a country that has never attacked Iran, but has always striven for restraint and for prioritizing diplomacy over escalation, even in the most difficult moments befalling the region. Thus, this attack constitutes an unjustified escalation, and threatens to further exacerbate tensions. "Any attempt to harm [Qatar's] role, or to use political violence to change the rules of the game in the region, will not pass without an appropriate response on all levels: legal, political, and security. Harm to the [Al-Udeid air] base also directly threatens Qatar's allies. Thus, there is a need for a responsible international position that will not settle for condemnation but will rise to the level of deterrent action... "[Qatar's] relevant apparatuses dealt very professionally with the incident [of the Iranian missile attack], successfully minimizing damage and avoiding casualties. This sends a clear message: Qatar is ready, alert, and capable of defending itself, its interests and its people. This rapid response [to the attack] is a manifestation not only of military readiness, but [also] of the cohesion of its entire national security array, from the command [level] to the executive [ranks]… 'The solidarity with Qatar [expressed by various countries after the attack on CENTCOM] reflects the depth of the relations established by Qatari diplomacy over the years. This proves that Qatar's balanced positions were not for nought – they gained for it global political credit, which is today translated [into solidarity with Qatar] at the moment of conflict. "Today we face a real test of the international community's seriousness in defending small and medium-sized countries from attacks by regional actors who scoff at international law. The UN Security Council and secretary general have a moral and legal responsibility to condemn this attack, to act as soon as possible to prevent it from happening again, and to take the necessary deterrent measures. Any leniency in addressing this aggression opens the door to similar aggressive behavior [in the future], and undermines the UN Charter, the second article of which prohibits the use of force against any state's territorial integrity or political independence. "Qatar, with its wise leadership and united people, rejects dictates and does not fear conflict when it comes to its honor and sovereignty. At the same time, however, it adheres to the legal and diplomatic tracks, and calls on the international community to stand against irresponsible policy that threatens security and peace in the region. We are aware that power lies not only in the possession of weapons, but also in gaining legitimacy, defending justice, and persevering in principles. Qatar has already proven that it is a country that stands firm in its position, is wise in its response, and is and courageous in managing its crises. "I will say this clearly: The era of silence has passed, and our positions will remain steadfast. We will not deviate from them, not from fear, and not from courtesy. Qatar is not an aggressive country, but it is a country that will not [stand for] being harmed. It is not a country of war – but it is prepared for any possibility."[7]
Memri
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Media Figures In Qatar Condemn U.S. Attack On Iran's Nuclear Facilities, Vilify President Donald Trump: He Is A Brazen Liar Who Has Revealed His Ugly Face
The June 22, 2025 U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities sparked furious responses from journalists and public opinion shapers in Qatar, who harshly condemned the U.S. and its President, Donald Trump. In addition to a statement by Qatar's foreign ministry that expressed "regret" over "the deterioration of the situation " and warned of "catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels,"[1] Al-Jazeera presenters and columnists for Qatar's government papers took to X to slam the U.S. and its president, calling Trump a "brazen liar," "the leader of a modern crusade," and a "war criminal" who has "revealed his ugly face" and is " looking for false personal glory." They also described the Americans as "infidels" and "plotters" seeking to "ignite wars and destroy peoples." Retired Qatari general Mubarak Al-Khayareen focused his invective on Israel, writing after the U.S. attack that, while "there is [some] benefit in the U.S. being strong alongside Russia and China, in order to maintain the global balance [of power]," Israel "must be destroyed and eliminated and must disappear." It should be noted that Qatari journalists have been expressing support for Iran since the start of the Israel-Iran war.[2] The following are some of the responses posted by media figures in Qatar slamming the U.S. and Trump for the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Al-Jazeera Presenter: President Trump Is A Brazen Liar; The U.S. Is A Plague In a series of X posts on June 22, following the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, Al-Jazeera presenter Hayat Al-Yamani cursed the U.S. and President Trump, accusing them of lies and deceit. She wrote: "Lie, Trump, lie again and again, and then boast about being a brazen liar." In another post, she wrote: "The U.S. is the plague, and the plague is the U.S." One of Al-Yamani's posts In a third post she added: "Every resident of that despicable part of the world called America should feel ashamed of his president's and his leaders' involvement in a disgraceful lie and [of the fact that] they engaged in diplomacy through hollow negotiations aimed at buying time and carrying out a brazen act of deception. Who will ever want to sit at the negotiating table again with [this] deceitful negotiator?" [3] Another post by Al-Yamani Al-Jazeera Presenter Characterizes Americans As Infidel Plotters Al-Jazeera presenter Mustafa Ashour posted a Quranic verse (8:30): " The unbelievers plotted to imprison, murder or expel you [O Muhammad]. They plot, but Allah too plots and Allah is the best of plotters."[4] Mustafa Ashour's post Columnist For Qatari Government Daily: Trump Is Leading A Modern Crusade; The Americans Are Manufacturers Of Chaos And Engineers Of Destruction Jordanian journalist Ihsan Al-Faqih, a columnist for the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq and the Qatari-owned London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, quoted statements made by President Trump and responded to them: "'There's no military in the world that could have done what we did' – This is not the president of a country [talking], but the leader of a modern crusade boasting about destroying facilities and the sovereignty of [other] countries. He speaks about bombing a country with millions of people as if it were an ant crushed under his boot, and as if Iran were nothing more than a stage for flexing muscles ahead of elections... 'What we did, nobody else could do' – That's true, Trump. No one ignites wars and destroys peoples like you do. From Iraq to Afghanistan, from Palestine to Iran, you are manufacturers of chaos and engineers of destruction. Your history is not full of heroic deeds, but full of open graves.'[5] Qatari Columnist: Trump Is A National Disgrace; He Has Revealed His Ugly Face Abdullah Al-Amadi, a columnist for the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, shared photos of U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and wrote in English under the hashtags "Trump Is a National Disgrace" and "Trump Is War Criminal": "Trump showed his ugly face to the world & contradicted American public opinion by strongly supporting the war criminal Netanyahu & his racist occupation regime, by entering the war against Iran, claiming that it is the largest country supporting terrorism, while Israhell is the largest gathering of terrorists & racists in the world. He is proving to the world that he is looking for false personal glory, even at the expense of the security of his people, who will become a target. Trump is no different from Netanyahu, both are two sides of the same coin."[6] Abdullah Al-Amadi's post Retired Qatari General: Israel Must Be Destroyed And Eliminated Retired Qatari general Mubarak Al-Khayareen, wrote on his X account: "There is [some] benefit in the U.S. being strong alongside Russia and China, in order to maintain the global balance [of power], but Israel must be destroyed and eliminated and must disappear. This should be a strategic Arab doctrine. This reminds [us] of the words of [Hamas founder] Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who said that Israel had been built on a foundation of injustice and oppression, and that any entity founded on injustice and oppression is destined to perish. [Operation] Al-Aqsa Flood [i.e., Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel showed us that the Israelis have no connection to the land and that they admit they are occupying the land of others and that they are transient."[7]
Memri
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Editor Of Qatari Government Daily: Hamas Must Not Disarm – It Will Defeat Israel With The Strength Of Its Weapons Like The Taliban Defeated Both The U.S. And The West
According to numerous recent reports in Arab media, a demand to disarm has been presented to Hamas, as part of the contacts for a ceasefire in Gaza, and this demand was rejected by Hamas officials.[1] Joining Hamas in its position are journalists in Qatar, who call the weapons of the Palestinian resistance an "existential necessity" that "are not to be bargained over"; they also refer to them as "honor" and that "relinquishing them is humiliation" and as a means that "caused heavy losses to the occupation." Particularly noticeable among these journalists was the position of Jabar Al-Harmi, editor of the Al-Sharq government daily, who called on Hamas not to give up its weapons and not to disavow its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, because "what was taken by force will be restored only by force." He called on Hamas to act like the Taliban in Afghanistan, which despite its sacrifices never gave up its weapons and, "armed from head to toe," forced the U.S. to sit at the negotiating table with it to discuss "not what it [the U.S.] would achieve and what it would gain, but how it would escape [from Afghanistan]." Hamas's holding on to its weapons, he said, would stop Israel from recovering from October 7; he added that in any case, Israel's disappearance was nearer than people think. It should be noted that Al-Harmi also holds antisemitic views and has called for the destruction of Israel. In his articles in the newspaper, and on his X account, he regularly expresses support for Hamas and its October 7, 2023 attack, in which 1,200 were killed and 251 were taken to Gaza as hostages.[2] This mirrors Qatar's absolute support for Hamas.[3] Cartoon in Qatari daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi: Resistance fighter stands fast against attempts to take "the weapons of the resistance" from him. (Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, April 25, 2025) This report will present the positions of writers in Qatar on the subject of the "weapons of the resistance," particularly the position of Al-Sharq editor Jabar Al-Harmi: Al-Sharq Editor Al-Harmi On X, May 24, 2025: Like The Taliban, Hamas Must Not Give Up Its Weapons – And Must Not Disavow Its October 7 Attack Al-Sharq editor Jabar Al-Harmi called on Hamas not to give up its weapons and not to disavow its October 7, 2023 attack. He likened Hamas's situation to that of the Afghan Taliban, who never relinquished their weapons and even, he said, forced the U.S. to negotiate with them by force of their weapons, in addition to "defeating Russia and then the U.S. and the West all together" who today seek "the love of the Afghans – love that comes by force of arms." In a May 24, 2025 post on X, Al-Harmi wrote: "Had the Afghans agreed to solutions of submission during the invasion of their country by two of the strongest countries – the U.S.S.R. in 1979 and the U.S. in 2002 [sic[4]] – and had they said 'We have no strength against these two countries, we are a poor country, and if we are in a position of inferiority, we have no weapons and the world is set against us,' they would not today have a state that is respected by all those who invaded them previously. "The Afghans opposed [the invaders] with their force and might, defeating Russia and then the U.S. and the West all together. Although the invaders used the most criminal weapons, including weapons banned by international conventions, the Afghans did not surrender, despite all the victims. This is what ultimately forced the invaders to sit at the negotiating table with them, by force of arms – not to negotiate over what it [the U.S.] would achieve and what it would gain, but how it would escape [from Afghanistan]. "This did not happen by virtue of the Afghans' consent to disarm – it was by virtue of their strong opposition to the invaders and their defense by means of everything they had, and by means of the weapons of the enemies that they had seized. This is the path to liberation. What was taken by force will be restored only by force, and anything else is an attempt to anesthetize and distract the occupied peoples. Today, Russia and the U.S. seek the love of the Afghans – a love that comes by force of arms. "Consent to disarm the resistance in Gaza and to disavow the October 7 [attack] means that the enemy [Israel] will revive, [and will continue to exist] for the next 100 years. Even if the Palestinian people is wounded, and if the Gazans are dead, do not think that the enemy is relaxed – on the contrary, its fear is greater, and it is now focusing on its entity's future. Will this entity, which is [weaker than] a spiderweb,[5] survive, or will it disappear and not see out its eighth decade? Its disappearance is nearer than you think. 'If you should be suffering – so are they suffering as you are suffering' – but the difference [between the two comes at the end of the verse]: 'You have hope of reward, help, and support from Allah, which they cannot hope for.'[6]"[7] Post by Jaber Al-Harmi ( May 24, 2025) Al-Harmi On X, April 14, 2025: The "Weapons Of The Resistance" In Gaza Are Not For Sale And Are Nonnegotiable In a previous X post, on April 14, 2025, Al-Harmi rejected the demand that Hamas disarm, using the same parallel to the Taliban's refusal to negotiate over disarming. He wrote: "The resistance in Gaza, whether Hamas or another [resistance movement], will not fall into the trap of disarmament, no matter what guarantees [it receives]... "[In the case of the] Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. tried to set this [disarmament] as the main condition for negotiations, [but the] Taliban would not negotiate at all about this, and the U.S. was forced to go back to the negotiating table with the Taliban while the latter was armed from head to toe. They told the U.S.: 'It was only the weapons that brought you to sit at the negotiating table with us. Therefore, the resistance must not negotiate over its weapons in any way.' The weapons of the resistance in Gaza are not for sale and are nonnegotiable."[8] Article In Al-Sharq, April 23, 2025: The Weapons Of The Resistance Are An Existential Necessity And An Influential Means Of Action Opposition to disarming Hamas was also seen in many articles in the Qatari government press. For example, Palestinian writer Hadir Rashad explained in his column in Al-Sharq, under the headline "The Weapons Of The Resistance Are Not For Bargaining," that "it is not easy to raise the issue of disarming the resistance without this proposal crashing into the obvious wall of reality, according to which weapons in the hands of peoples under occupation are not a choice but an existential necessity... The weapons of the resistance in Gaza will never be a mere symbol or slogan – they are an influential means of action that caused the occupation heavy losses in lives and in [its] economy... "The call to disarm the resistance in Palestine before the occupation departs is a call for surrender, not peace; for permanent consent to the aggression and not for stopping it; for apparent calm whose hidden meaning is seizing the trump card from the hands of the people that has only force of will and arms."[9] Article In Al-Watan, May 16, 2025: Weapons Are Honor, Relinquishing Them Is Humiliation In his May 16, 2025 column in the Qatari government daily Al-Watan, Palestinian writer Samir Al-Barghouti presented the results of a Palestinian poll that showed widespread Palestinian support for Hamas amid the decline in the prestige of the Palestinian Authority and of Fatah. He stated that "82% of the Palestinian [respondents] said that they oppose handing over the weapons of the resistance." He summarized the survey, stating: "Since the first and second intifadas, and the [Al-Aqsa] Flood [the October 7 attack], Palestinians have believed that they have no other choice but resistance, and that weapons are honor, and relinquishing them is humiliation."[10]
Memri
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Abdullah Al-Amadi, Journalist For Qatari Government Daily And Former Advisor To Qatari Education Minister, Regularly Publishes Antisemitic Content And Incitement To Violence Against Jews and Israelis
Prominent Qatari journalist Abdullah Al-Amadi, former advisor to the Qatari education minister and former deputy editor of the Qatari government dailyAl-Sharq, frequently publishes antisemitic content and incitement to terrorism and violence against Jews and Israelis in his column in Al-Sharq and on his X account. For example, on May 22, 2025, the day after the terror attack at a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. in which two Israeli Embassy staffers were murdered, he posted on his X account encouragement for more such attacks in Arab countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel: "Imagine, where would the Zionists be if there emerged an Egyptian Rodriguez, a Jordanian, an Emirati too, a fourth from Bahrain, and a fifth from Morocco?"[1] The post was removed shortly after it appeared. (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11990, Qatari Media Figures Praise Washington D.C. Terror Attack On Jewish Event For Young Professionals That Killed Two Israeli Embassy Employees, May 22, 2025.) Following MEMRI's publication of the above report quoting Al-Amadi's X post, on May 25 he clarified on X, "I am accused of always inciting hatred of Jews," arguing that the accusation is baseless and he is being slandered because his statements are only "directed against Zionist Jews whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people in Gaza."[2] His denials notwithstanding, over the years MEMRI has monitored, and published, numerous statements and columns by Al-Amadi in Al-Sharq and on X that are replete with blatantly antisemitic content and incitement to violence against Jews and Israelis, and that praise the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and express hope for Israel's demise. In one of his columns, Al-Amadi asserted that there is no difference between Zionists and Jews,[3] and to anyone who argued that Muslims have no quarrel with the Jews, he answered, "Yes, we do." In another column, he stated that according to the Quran, the Jews are hostile to the Muslims and will remain so until Judgement Day, and in yet another he claimed that resentment and hatred are ingrained in the cunning, deceitful Jews who are violators of agreements. With regard to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel – in which some 1,200 people were murdered and 251 were taken hostage – he wrote that this was the day when Allah humiliated Israel, adding that Israel's end was nigh. Labelling the attack an historic turning point that had saved the honor of the Muslim nation, which he said is in perpetual conflict with Western civilization, he argued that it is only by means of more such attacks that Israel would be restrained, and called to liberate "all of Palestine from the Zionist-Crusader enterprise and to purge its territory of all the filth and contamination of the sons of Zion." It is notable that in an Al-Sharq column in early May, Al-Amadi, who also opposes the normalization between Israel and several Arab countries, called for banning all "pro-Zionist Jews" from entering any Arab and Muslim country. He added that any such Jew found living in any of these countries must be made to feel constant fear for his life. Abdullah Al-Amadi (Image: This report presents examples of antisemitic statements, praise for the October 7 attack, and expressions of hope for the end of Israel published by Abdullah Al-Amadi over the years. Al-Amadi In Antisemitic Column In 2020: We Have A Problem With The Jews, And There Is No Difference Between Jews And Zionists In a December 10, 2020 column in the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, against the backdrop of the signing of the normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries, Al-Amadi stated that the Quran mentions a historic truth about the Jews, namely that they are hostile to the Muslims and will remain so until the Day of Judgement. He wrote: "When some people say we have no [quarrel] with the Jews, we say to them: Yes, we do. And when they say there is a difference between Jews and Zionists, we say that there is not. In fact, the Jews are most hostile to the believers [i.e. the Muslims], and that is not something we say, it is in the Quran, which we shall recite until Judgement Day. "Perhaps today it seems as though there is a difference between the Jews and the Zionists, so much so that sometimes one is almost inclined to be lenient with those who display their Judaism but oppose Zionism. But the fact is... that there is little difference between the two groups. It is no simple thing to ignore the historical truth and claim the opposite of what is stated clearly and explicitly in the Quran. If we understand [the Quran] and internalize its directives and its truth regarding the nations and the kinds of people who surround us, it will not be difficult to understand our current relations with the other nations, such as the hypocrites and the Jews."[4] (See MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1634, Antisemitism And Holocaust Denial In Qatari Press, April 28, 2022.) Al-Amadi In May 2025 Column: A Pro-Zionist Jew In An Arab Country Should Feel Constant Fear For His Life In a May 1, 2025 column in Al-Sharq, Abdullah Al-Amadi wrote: "We must act in every manner and by every possible means to prevent any pro-Zionist Jew from entering our Arab and Muslim countries under any heading or slogan – trade, tourism or sports. And if one does arrive, he must [be made to] feel unwelcome and even to feel in constant fear for his life, like a person in the crosshairs. "Any wicked and lying pro-Zionist Jew must feel this anxiety – and not just him, but also all the Arabs and Muslims who identify with [the Zionists]: those who have normalized [relations] with them, those who are about to do so and those who are considering it…"[5] Al-Amadi In March 2024 Column: The Quran Reveals That The Jews Are Cunning, Dishonest Violators Of Agreements; This Has Been Their Nature Generation After Generation In a column replete with antisemitic motifs, published on March 14, 2024, Al-Amadi wrote that hatred, resentment and jealousy toward Muslims have been ingrained in the Jews since the days of the Prophet Muhammad: "The Quran exposes the truth about the Jews... their cunning, their dishonesty, and their repeated violation of promises and treaties despite the trials and tribulations they suffered as punishment for their deeds... "The hostility of the Jews towards the Muslim community, which continues from those days until today, is different from [the hostility] of all the other nations towards Islam and the Muslims, for their resentment, jealousy and hatred are ingrained in them. In fact, it seems that [these sentiments] were handed down from generation to generation, until this very day... "The Jews of the past are the Jews of today. In their modern form... they became Zionists, who have no [connection] whatsoever with religions, morality or values. In fact, their hostility, barbarity and crimes against the Muslims in Gaza have grown worse, and they mean to harm every Muslim everywhere, if they can." Also in the column, Al-Amadi compared the war in Gaza to the plots allegedly hatched by the Jewish tribes of the Arabian Peninsula against the Prophet Muhammad in his day.[6] (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11236, Columnist In Qatari Daily: Hatred And Hostility Are Ingrained In The Jews; The War In Gaza Is An Exact Copy Of Their Forefathers' Plot Against The Muslims In The Time Of The Prophet, March 28, 2024.) On X, On Anniversary Of October 7 Attack, Al-Amadi Glorifies It: This Was The Day Allah Humiliated Israel, Whose End Is Near On October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, Amadi shared a poster on his X account showing Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida, the Al-Aqsa mosque, a hand making the victory sign, and the inverted red triangle symbol that Hamas uses to denote a target in the videos of its military wing. The text in the poster states: "Victory with the help of Allah is near" (Quran 2:214), and "May you be strong on every seventh [of October], Oh people of Gaza."[7] In another post on the same day, he shared footage of Hamas's October 7 attack and wrote in English: "The 7th of October 2023 was the day that Allah humiliated this [Israeli] regime and made it founder like a rabid wounded dog seeking its end, which became more or less close, inshallah."[8] (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11601, Al-Jazeera And Other Journalists In Qatar On October 7 Anniversary: It Was A Magnificent Historic Day That Restored Our Nation's Honor, October 8, 2024) Al-Amadi's posts (Source: October 7, 2024) Al-Amadi In October 2024 Column Praising October 7 Attack: This Was A Historic Turning Point That Saved The Honor Of The Muslim Nation, Which Is In Perpetual Conflict With Western Civilization Several days after the first anniversary of the October 7 attack, Al-Amadi published a column titled "The Al-Aqsa Flood – A Historic Turning Point," in which he described this attack as a historic and effective event that had saved the honor of the Muslim nation. He added that this nation has long been in confrontation with Western civilization, of which Israel is merely a tool. He wrote: "In order to awaken from its deep slumber, the ummah urgently needed an event like a momentous earthquake, or at least a shock, to make it notice what is happening around it and what is being plotted against it. But what [actually] happened was far more effective than an earthquake – it was the Al-Aqsa Flood... "Some perhaps wonder about this flood and its usefulness, and ask how it will impact the [Muslim] nation. That is a legitimate and logical question. If the asker is short-sighted, he undoubtedly sees the flood as nothing more than [a source of] destruction, devastation, the spilling of innocent blood and [the death of] thousands of victims... "But if he is far-sighted, he undoubtedly sees the Flood as a lifeline that came out of nowhere to save the [Muslim] nation, despite all the potential repercussions of this salvation, including the effort, exhaustion, difficulty and loss of both life and property. From the perspective of logic and common sense, these are expected and reasonable outcomes; moreover, they were necessary in order to complete the act of salvation... when the [Muslim] nation was definitely drowning. Those [who take this view] argue that the flood restored the honor of the Muslim nation and the Muslim people, and let the world see the truth about Al-Aqsa or about the occupation, the aggression, and the Western conspiracies against this nation... "Those who still weep over the victims and the destroyed buildings, and blame the Flood for the situation in Gaza, are undoubtedly in denial, because human achievements such as attaining independence and liberation from tyranny, and wresting freedom from occupiers and oppressors, cannot be realized through wishes and dreams, but only through bloodshed... "The enemy is not the occupying Zionist entity – it is those who created it, supported it, and sponsored it [i.e. the West]. This entity is [nothing but] a facade and a tool [of the West]. Defeating it is not the end of the road; on the contrary, its defeat and downfall will cause the real enemy to reveal its face, this time without hypocrisy. Then the nation will find itself in the true battle with all those filthy [Westerners]..."[9] (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11713, Qatari Government Dailies Continue To Praise Hamas' October 7 Attack On Israel: It Was A Historic, Heroic Act That Saved The Muslim Nation, December 5, 2024.) Al-Amadi In January 2024 Column: It Is Only Through More Operations Like October 7 That Israel Will Be Restrained Al-Amadi wrote in a January 4, 2024 column that only additional operations like the October 7 attack will put a stop to Israel's plan of expanding "from the Nile to the Euphrates." He stated: "...The Zionist entity wants to turn things on their head and convince the world that it is indigenous while the Palestinians are foreigners in the land. There is no doubt that throughout these difficult years, it has managed to convince many people around the world of this, even though it did as it pleased, without consideration for anybody, and continues to do so. But Operation Al-Aqsa Flood [the October 7 attack] stopped this arrogance and exposed the distorted character of the Zionist narrative... "The Zionist entity means to continue its plan of the past 70 years by re-occupying Gaza and then swallowing up what is left of the [West] Bank, so as to occupy all of Palestine and then quickly launch its plan to expand toward its neighbors Egypt, Jordan and Syria, until it realizes its vision of Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates. This entity will not stop and will not be deterred until it suffers a second, third and tenth Al-Aqsa Flood, which will frighten it and cut it down to size, for what was taken by force will only be restored by force. That is the reasoning that this occupying and foreign enemy understands."[10] (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11154, Incitement Against Israel In Qatari Press Continues: Only More Attacks Like October 7 Will Restrain It; The Conflict Will End Only With Disappearance Of Israel, February 28, 2024.) Al-Amadi In December 2023 Column: All Of Palestine Must Be Liberated From The Zionist-Crusader Enterprise And Purged Of The "Filth And Contamination Of The Sons Of Zion" In his column titled "Gaza – An Opportunity that Will Not Come Again," published December 14, 2023, Al-Amadi wrote: "...The Zionist entity is a Western product and a despicable imperialistic enterprise, garbed in a false religious mantle, that was planted in an Arab and Muslim environment. [This entity] causes us, the Arab and Muslim nation, to be more determined than anyone else to continue our efforts to repel it and destabilize it in the land of Palestine and on any Arab and Muslim land. This action can be termed 'resistance,' and is legitimate from the religious, legal and moral perspectives… "The Zionist withdrawal from Gaza is just one of several large goals that must be realized, no matter how long [it takes], for the noble goal is to liberate all of Palestine from this Zionist-Crusader enterprise and purge it of all the filth and contamination of the sons of Zion, both human and material. This is [also] an opportunity to be rid of the Zionist gangs and war criminals and of the prominent Arab and Western leaders that neglect [Palestine]. They will no doubt come to a bitter end after they experience disaster sooner or later…"[11] (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11154, Incitement Against Israel In Qatari Press Continues: Only More Attacks Like October 7 Will Restrain It; The Conflict Will End Only With Disappearance Of Israel, February 28, 2024.)
Memri
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Qatari Media Figures Praise Washington D.C. Terror Attack On Jewish Event For Young Professionals That Killed Two Israeli Embassy Employees
The May 21, 2025, shooting attack that killed two Israeli Embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., was met with a wave of responses on social media, including some by Qatari media figures. This report reviews some of these responses. Journalist For Qatari Government Daily: Imagine, Where Would The Zionists Be If There Were A Few More Like Rodriguez In Arab Countries That Maintain Ties With Israel? Qatari journalist Abdallah Alamadi, a columnist for the Qatar government daily Al-Sharq, called for more attacks targeting Israeli Embassies in Arab countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. On his X account, he shared a photo of the Washington D.C. attacker, Elias Rodriguez, alongside a report on the attack, writing: "Imagine, where would the Zionists be if there emerged an Egyptian Rodriguez, a Jordanian, an Emirati too, a fourth from Bahrain, and a fifth from Morocco?"[1] Columnist For Government Daily Al-Sharq Responds To Terror Attack: The World Hates You Egyptian journalist, film producer, and former Al Jazeera presenter Assaad Taha, who has a column in Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, wrote on his X account hours after the attack: "The world hates you."[2] Al Jazeera Fact Checking Agency Employee: The Attacker Is A Man Who Raised His Voice For Gaza Adnan Alhussein, a journalist and supervisor at the editing team of Al Jazeera's fact-checking Sanad Agency, wrote on his X account: "The leftist writer [who works] for 'The HistoryMakers' organization, Elias Rodriguez, shot dead two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington. He waited for the police and told them it was for Gaza, [and yelled:] 'Free Palestine'. This is the curse of Palestinian blood and the blood of Gaza on the world."[3] On his Facebook account, Alhussein shared a photo of the shooter, writing: "From here, a distant land, a man emerged who raised his voice for Gaza. Two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot to death. Oh, Mighty Allah, ease things for our people in Palestine and Gaza."[4] Member Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Backed And Funded By Qatar, Responds To Attack: 'All Decent Humans, From All Faiths, Stand Against #Gazagenocide' Mohammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, a member of the Internation Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), which is backed and funded by Qatar, who is also a lecturer at Qatar University, shared on his X account the video of the D.C. attacker being apprehended, writing in English: "A young American, #eliasrodriguez, killed 2 employees of the #Israel embassy in DC, chanting #FreePalestine. All decent humans, from all faiths, stand against #GazaGenocide, except Israel's slaves in Washington and Washington's slaves in the Arab world."[5]
