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The Wall Street Journal Sacrifices Professionalism and Credibility

Once again, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal shocks us with false news, relying on second-hand information and unreliable sources, including former officials or anonymous sources. This time, it targets the State of Qatar with a new smoke bomb, attempting to cloud its role, efforts, and firm principles in supporting the Palestinian cause.

The latest allegations by The Wall Street Journal were refuted by the International Media Office in a statement issued yesterday. The office condemned the newspaper's claims about Qatar, including the allegation that it opposed the invitation of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine, to attend the fraternal consultative meeting in Riyadh, which brought together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the King of Jordan, and the President of Egypt—on the pretext that Hamas should also be present.

The International Media Office confirmed that these claims are entirely false, baseless, and irresponsible, as they are based on second-hand information and unreliable sources that were not verified with the relevant authorities.

According to the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the office emphasized that Qatar has been one of the largest supporters of the Palestinian Authority for many years, working closely with it on numerous issues and initiatives, including ongoing and past efforts.

The office further noted that these unreliable reports are not surprising, as this is not the first time that the newspaper’s writers have made allegations with potentially serious consequences without adhering to professional journalistic standards.

The statement concluded that such reports contradict the professionalism that The Wall Street Journal and its journalists have been known for.

The Lie of Expelling Hamas Leaders

On April 20, 2024, The Wall Street Journal targeted Qatar with a similar report, relying on anonymous sources and inaccurate information at a time when Qatar was racing against time as a trusted mediator alongside Egypt and the United States to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

The American newspaper alleged that Hamas's political leadership was considering relocating its headquarters outside of Qatar due to increasing pressure from U.S. Congress members on Doha regarding its mediation between Israel and Hamas.

It also claimed—citing officials familiar with ceasefire negotiations—that Qatar and Egypt had informed Hamas leaders that they could face arrest, asset freezes, sanctions, and expulsion from their safe haven in Doha if they did not agree to a ceasefire with Israel.

On April 23, 2024, during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ weekly briefing, Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, the official spokesperson for the Ministry, denied these allegations, affirming that the claims about relocating Hamas’s office from Doha were baseless. He stated: "The office was established in coordination with the United States and other parties to ensure a communication channel that would facilitate any mediation led by Qatar between the two sides, and it has successfully contributed to many mediation efforts in recent years."

Repeated Lies

Despite the falsehood of The Wall Street Journal's story, numerous news agencies and international newspapers widely circulated it, treating it as an established fact despite the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ denial.

On November 9, 2024, CNN republished the content of The Wall Street Journal’s report under the headline "Qatar Agrees to Expel Hamas at the Request of the U.S."—at a time when efforts to halt the war between Israel and Hamas were faltering.

In response, Dr. Majed Al-Ansari confirmed that the Hamas leaders involved in ceasefire negotiations with Israel were not currently in Doha, denying claims that the Hamas office in Qatar had been closed.

During a press conference in Doha, he stated: "The Hamas leaders involved in negotiations are not in Doha at the moment, and as you know, they move between several capitals."

He added: "If a decision is made to close the Hamas office permanently, you will hear the news from this platform or in an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Simultaneously, a senior official in the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also denied reports that Qatar had agreed to close the movement's office and expel its leaders from Doha, describing the claims as "baseless" and a "pressure tactic," noting that similar allegations had surfaced in the past without evidence.

Targeting the World Cup

Qatar has been the target of fabricated reports and organized campaigns since it won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One of the earliest attacks came in December 2010, when The Wall Street Journal published a report claiming that Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentine Football Association, had received a $78.4 million bribe from Qatar to support its bid for the World Cup. Qatar denied the allegation, and international judicial investigations later proved it to be false. However, The Wall Street Journal refused to retract its claims and continued to play a role in the relentless media campaigns against Qatar at the time.

The newspaper also participated in media attacks against Qatar for hosting the 2022 World Cup. Western media outlets ignored the tournament’s opening ceremony—the first in the region—simply because it was held in Qatar. The Wall Street Journal published a report titled "Qatar Kicks Off the World Cup with a Defeat and Empty Seats."

However, just days after the tournament began, the same newspaper admitted: "Qatar’s success in organizing the World Cup has exceeded all expectations."

In a report published in early December 2022, the newspaper acknowledged: "The World Cup, hosted for the first time in a Gulf state, is running at a high level of smoothness, driven by Qatar’s vast financial resources. The country has not hesitated to spend nearly $220 billion to ensure the tournament's success, building the necessary stadiums and infrastructure."

The report added: "Qatar has managed to organize the tournament without disruptions, despite the sudden surge in its population due to the World Cup, with at least two million fans expected to visit over the tournament’s month-long duration."

It also highlighted that "matches have proceeded without obstacles since the group stage, with four matches played daily within a 35-mile radius. The desert heat has not posed a problem, and the crowds have not overwhelmed the newly established transit system, nor have the 100 daily flights bringing fans from neighboring countries."