Our aid and money go directly to people, we apply very strict mechanisms: Foreign Minister

Saint Petersburg: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed that Qatar’s aid and money go directly to the people and applies very strict mechanisms that everyone knows, including the Israelis and the United States. This came during his participation in a session entitled "West Asia and North Africa.. Paths Towards Stability and Prosperity," which was organized by the Doha Forum during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2021.

Regarding the controversy surrounding Qatar during the past years due to the blockade and the accusations of its support for Hamas and extremist elements in Gaza and the financing of terrorist elements, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said, "Unfortunately, this is part of the misinformation campaign that Qatar is exposed to. Our aid and money go directly to the people. We apply very strict mechanisms that everyone knows, including the Israelis and the United States. We also abide by all international rules and the US sanctions system because we are tied to the dollar in the end. Our banking system works transparently and in accordance with good governance practices. Our relationship with Hamas and the Taliban movements does not mean that we finance or support them." The Foreign Minister added that Qatar aims with this relationship to establish contact and open a channel with them, adding that in Gaza now there is, unfortunately, a lot of misinformation spread by the Israelis, while they know very well how strict Qatar controls this process and where the money it contributes goes. Since 2012, Qatar has contributed $1.4 billion to the reconstruction of Gaza, and has built 42,000 housing units, roads, hospitals, and schools, and is contributing to the care and maintenance of those facilities, he pointed out.