The United States reacted cautiously Tuesday to a visit to Gaza by the emir of Qatar, calling it a humanitarian mission and denouncing the destabilizing role of Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
“We have seen the reports that Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa visited Gaza today on a humanitarian mission,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “We share Qatar’s deep concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people, including those residing in Gaza.”
The emir’s visit to Gaza was the first by a head of state since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, ousting the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
It was seen as a coup for Hamas, breaking the political isolation imposed on the Islamist movement by the international community over the past five years.
Personalities like the UN secretary general or European foreign ministers who have visited Gaza have avoided all contact with Hamas, because of its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce armed struggle.
Nuland indicated that Qatar had not given the United States advance warning of the emir’s visit.
“We of course remain concerned about Hamas’ destabilizing role in Gaza and the region. And we urge all parties in the region to play a constructive role in bringing the Palestinians and the Israelis back to the negotiating table,” she said.
US reacts cautiously to Qatar emir visit to Gaza
