Qatar has refuted claims published by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) it had opposed inviting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the recent Arab summit in Riyadh on grounds that Hamas should also be in attendance.
The gulf country’s official International Media Office released a statement on Saturday calling the WSJ report “baseless and wholly irresponsible,” adding that the accusations “rely on hearsay and loosely sourced information from former officials and were not verified with the relevant parties.”
Doha has been one of the main donors to the Palestinian Authority for many years, the statement added and has worked with them on a range of issues, including both past and ongoing efforts.
Leaders of the Arab world informally met in Riyadh on Feb. 21 to discuss plans for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction amid growing opposition to Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US assume control of the Palestinian territory and displace its population.
The WSJ on Saturday published a report claiming that Qatar blocked an invitation to Abbas, barring him from attending the summit attended by leaders from Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
“This subpar reporting is not surprising, as it is not the first time the article’s authors have leveled potentially consequential accusations while neglecting to follow proper journalistic procedures,” Qatar’s media office said in response to the report.
“Such reports are inconsistent with the professionalism we have been accustomed to from The Wall Street Journal and other journalists at the publication.”
