Five reasons why Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar

Tensions have been simmering between the Gulf countries and Qatar for some time now. But the sudden joint decision by Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to cut all ties with Qatar, left many surprised. The United States later even requested the Gulf countries to stay united.

The Saudis who are leading the ban on Qatar have accused its Arab neighbour of supporting extremism and thereby threatening the stability in the region. Doha largely depends on its neighbours for its food requirement and the embargo

The UAE after announcing its decision has asked all Qatari diplomats and nationals to leave the country within 48 hours. Saudi Arabia already has shut down air, land and sea borders with Qatar. Similarly, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt have also shut down their air and sea borders. Also, the Arab coalition has said that the Qatari armed forces assisting in the war against Yemen also have been asked to return.

Here we have listed some of the reasons that "forced" Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to sever ties with Qatar.

1. The question is what caused this sudden outburst. Two weeks back, several Qatar media outlets, majorly led by Al Jazeera, had published an alleged comment by  Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Hamad Al Thani. The emir's statement, in which he hailed Iran as an "Islamic power" and criticised American President Donald Trump and his policy on Tehran created ripples in the Gulf countries. 

Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt came heavily against the Qatari media outlets. Amid the backlash, Doha issued a statement claiming that its official website was hacked and the report was fabricated by the miscreants.

2. It is a known fact that Qatar has openly been supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood - something that has irked both the Saudis and Egypt.

3. However, "unlike other Gulf countries" Qatar is home to multiple terrorist and sectarian groups. ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hamas, all have some or the other Qatar tie.

Besides the Muslim Brotherhood, Doha has funded, assisted and even harboured Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda terrorists. Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has been living in exile in Qatar and even has an office in Doha, from where he last month released a new policy document. In 2013, the Afghan Taliban also set up their office in Doha.

4. Several Qatari nationals have faced sanctions from the US Treasury for terror financing. The country also has been accused of being a state sponsor of terror. 

5. Then there is also its business ties with Iran. The country shares the world's largest gas field, South Pars, with Iran - a commercial interest has always irritated Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt