Four Arab states that are boycotting Qatar because of its alleged terrorist support sent a list of 13 requests to Doha, including the closure of Al Jazeera television and cutting all relations with Iran, an official from one of these countries said. The list of requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain, includes the closure of the Turkish military base in Qatar, a Reuters report said. Qatar also has to announce the termination of links with terrorists, and ideological and sectarian organizations, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic State, Qaeda, and Hezbollah.
Ten-day deadline
Four states have given Doha a ten-day deadline to meet their demands. Kuwait, who is mediating the dispute, handed over a list to Qatar, an unnamed official said.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt broke all ties with Doha on June 5, accusing Qatar of supporting Islamist militants and Iran. They prohibited Qatar from entering their airspace and imposed trade restraints and limitations on people's movements, and Saudi Arabia closed its land border with Qatar.
Doha decisively rejects these accusations of its neighbors.
Qatar will not negotiate
The United Arab Emirates warned Qatar that the sanctions imposed by the Arab neighbors could last for years if they do not accept these requirements, and Doha answered it will not negotiate with them until the sanctions are lifted.
"Qatar will realize that this is a new state of affairs and that the isolation can last for years," said the Emperor of Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash to journalists in Paris. "If they want to be isolated because of their perverted understanding of their political role, then they should be isolated.
The Atlantic reported that "Dana Shell Smith, the U.S.
ambassador to Qatar who drew attention last month after posting a tweet that appeared to be critical of the Trump administration, announced Tuesday that her tenure in Doha will end later this month."
According to News Grid, Al Jazeera was cited as saying that they "condemn the demands" that their media outlet should be shut down, saying that it is "nothing short than a siege against the journalistic profession".
They said that governments should respect the rights of media to "to do their jobs free of intimidation, threats, and fearmongering." Responding to this demand Reporters Without Borders slammed the demand saying that the implications are very worrying.
