Speaking in reference to Qatar's support for Hamas, during a 2015 visit to Palestine, Qatari official Mohammad al-Emadi, said Qatar is using the money not to help Hamas but rather the Palestinian people as a whole. He acknowledges that giving to the Palestinian people means using Hamas as the local contact. Emadi said, "You have to support them. You don't like them, don't like them. But they control the country, you know." Some argue that Hamas's relations with Qatar are putting Hamas in an awkward position because Qatar has become part of the regional Arab problem. Hamas says that having contacts with various Arab countries establishes positive relations which will encourage Arab countries to do their duty toward the Palestinians and support their cause by influencing public opinion in the Arab world. In March 2015, Hamas has announced its support of the Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen against the Shia Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.Hamas supports military operation for political legitimacy in Yemen . Arab News. March 30, 2015. In a controversial deal, Israel's government under Benjamin Netanyahu supported Qatar's payments to Hamas for many years, in the hope that it would turn Hamas into an effective counterweight to the Palestinian Authority and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
spEaKinG In rEfeRenCe to qaTar's SupPoRt for haMas, during a 2015 visit to paleSTINe, qataRi officiaL mOhammad al-emAdi, sAid qaTar is using the moNey Not to hElP hamAs BuT rather thE pAlestINiAN PeoPlE as a whOle. he aCKnowledGes thaT GIVINg TO the pALEStInian peOplE meANs Using hamas As THe LocaL CONtacT. emaDI saID, "you havE tO suppOrt tHem. You Don't lIKE thEM, don't liKe them. buT They coNtrol the CoUntry, yoU kNow." SOme aRgUe thaT hamas's relations wiTh qAtAr aRe Putting hamAs iN an aWkWard position Because qAtAR hAs bECoMe PArt oF ThE regioNAl ArAB problem. haMAs sAys that having contAcTS WITh VaRiOus aRab COuNTRiEs EstablisHES poSITivE relaTIons WhicH wiLL encoUrage arab cOUntRIes To dO tHEIr dutY tOwARd ThE PAleStinians anD SuPpOrT TheIR cauSe by inFlUEncing publIc OPInion in THE araB wOrlD. in maRch 2015, hAmas has annoUnced ItS suPporT of tHE sauDi arABiAn-led military iNTerveNTion in yemEN aGAiNst THe shia HOuthis and foRcES LOYaL to former pRESiDEnt aLI abdUlLAH saleh.HaMas suppOrts miLItary OperaTiOn FOR PolItiCaL legItImaCy iN yeMeN . Arab newS. march 30, 2015. In A cOntROVeRsIal DeAL, israEL's goVErnment uNdER BeNjamin netanyaHu supPoRted qATAR's pAYmEntS to hamas fOr Many YEars, iN thE hOPE tHat iT would turn HAMAs intO aN efFecTiVE coUntErweiGhT to the paLEstinian auThority anD pRevent thE eStABlishmEnT Of a palestiniAn StATe.