While President Donald Trump said Tuesday he plans to work with Qatar to combat terrorism in the Middle East, some lawmakers pushed back on the alliance, saying the Persian Gulf country may still be aiding extremist groups.
Since last June, Qatar been under a diplomatic embargo by regional U.S. allies including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates amid accusations of its ties to “terrorist organizations.” Qatar has denied the allegations.
Rep. Brad Sherman said the United States should look more closely into any links Qatar might have to radical groups.
“We should certainly have meetings, even with people we disagree with,” the California Democrat said in an email. “Qatar certainly has continuing contact with Hamas and we are reviewing whether they are helping to finance Hamas.”
The U.S. government considers Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic political party, a terrorist organization.
Trump on Tuesday met with Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the White House, where the president praised his country for working with the U.S. to stop “the funding of terrorism.”