Qatar: ‘We spent $1.4bn on rebuilding Gaza Strip’

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Friday denied Israeli claims that his country supported “terrorist” groups in the Gaza Strip, Sama News Agency reported.

During a financial conference held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Al-Thani disclosed that Qatar spent $1.4 billion on rebuilding the Gaza Strip since 2012.

Al-Thani has rejected frequent Israeli claims that Qatari money goes to “terror” groups in Gaza, stressing that Israel knows how the money is transferred.

He reiterated that Qatar is a real and credible partner in achieving peace as it does not believe in military solutions to any conflicts.

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The Qatari official said that Qatar is facing a distortion campaign, despite working to help poor Palestinian families, paying $100 per family per month. He confirmed that Qatar is carrying out its work in Gaza in a way that is not opposed by international law.

Last Wednesday, Al-Thani tweeted: “The State of Qatar announces $500 million in support of the reconstruction of Gaza.”

He added: “We will continue to support our brothers in Palestine to reach a just and lasting solution by establishing their independent state.”