Qatar’s new Defence Minister is alleged to have an extensive history of pro-Hamas and anti-Israel social media activity, according to a new report from the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI)
Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Gulf state’s former ambassador to Germany, was appointed to the role, as well as that of Deputy Prime Minister, in a cabinet reshuffle on November 12 last year.
But, given Qatar’s role as a mediator in negotiations between Hamas, Israel and the US and the continued presence of Hamas’ political leadership in Doha, he has come under scrutiny regarding his open support for the terror group in the past.
Over the years, Sheikh Saoud posted multiple now-deleted tweets in which he praised Hamas, encouraged fighting against Israel and criticised the US and President Donald Trump, according to the report. He also allegedly called to increase Qatar's influence on decision-makers in the US.
For example, according to screenshots of the post provided by MEMRI, Saoud tweeted in 2014 under the hashtags "We Are All Hamas" and "We Are All Palestine", saying: "O Jerusalem, awake, awake. We will never succumb to the darkness. O Jerusalem, rise up, rise up.”
He also apparently encouraged the city to “revive the memory of [Syrian terrorist Izz ad-Din] al-Qassam” and “shoot flames of fire".
Two years earlier, while serving as chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Saoud met Ismail Haniyeh, then Hamas's "prime minister" in Gaza, and Hamas official Yahya Sinwar, who would later lead the group as the architect of the October 7 attacks.
Tweeting about the visit, Saoud reportedly referred to "brother Prime [Minister] Ismail Haniyeh".
And in a 2021 tweet, he allegedly wrote, "Israel's control of the US is clear. We must plan how to influence the decision-makers in the US"
According to MEMRI, one of his followers wrote in response "I wish it was that easy," to which Saoud replied, "With correct planning and a strong will, everything is possible."
He has also reportedly accused the US of “destroying” Afghanistan and Iraq and allowing Iran and Russia to do the same to Syria.
Meanwhile, on the day President Trump announced Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017, Saoud reportedly shared a picture of the city under the hashtags "Jerusalem, Capital of Palestine" and "Jerusalem, the Eternal Capital of Palestine".
He allegedly wrote: "Since the day I opened my [X] account, this picture has been my [profile] banner, and I will not change it, Allah willing, due to my unshakeable belief that Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.
Referring to Trump's decision on Jerusalem, he reportedly added: "Nobody has the right to give away something he does not own."
Several days later Saoud allegedly shared a picture of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, commenting: "They have the Balfour Declaration and we have Allah's promise.”
It comes after members of the Israeli Knesset brought forward a bill to oust Qatar as a mediator, accusing the emirate of providing Hamas with political and financial support.
