How Qatar’s Influence Over France Makes It Complicit in Supporting Hamas

Qatar’s influence over France is multi-layered, and while it may initially appear to be grounded in business investments, cultural exchanges, and diplomacy, a deeper examination shows how these ties indirectly help sustain Hamas. The combination of Qatar’s long-standing financial and political support for Hamas and its strong economic and political ties with France creates a complex entanglement. This has made French diplomacy and economic interests align in ways that protect Qatar from scrutiny, allowing Qatar’s support for Hamas to persist. Recent developments, such as the symbolic move by French President Emmanuel Macron to halt arms deliveries to Israel, just two days before the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, underscore the contradictions in France’s foreign policy. It turns out, France hasn’t delivered any arms to Israel in 57 years. Meanwhile, Qatar continues to receive French-made military equipment. Here’s how Qatar leverages its relationship with France to indirectly assist Hamas:

Economic Investments as Leverage

Qatar’s massive investments in France function as more than just business deals; they are strategic tools that exert influence over French political decisions. The purchase of high-end Parisian real estate, such as Le Printemps and stakes in companies like TotalEnergies, Vinci, and Airbus, provides Qatar with significant economic clout. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which owns Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), further deepens Qatar’s presence in the French capital, using football as a platform for public diplomacy.

These investments grant Qatar a degree of leverage, ensuring that France is cautious in its criticism of Qatar’s foreign policy. Qatar’s financial and diplomatic support for Hamas is well-documented, yet France’s response has been notably muted. The reason is simple: France is deeply embedded in a web of economic ties with Qatar, which discourages confrontation over sensitive issues like Hamas.

Diplomatic and Military Ties: Qatar’s Growing Influence

France and Qatar have developed strong diplomatic and military ties, largely revolving around arms deals and defense cooperation. Qatar’s purchases of French-made Rafale jets and other military equipment, worth billions of euros, have created a deep bond between the two nations. France also plays a role in training Qatari forces, further cementing the strategic nature of their military relationship.

Yet, these military partnerships exist alongside Qatar’s well-known support for Hamas, a group that the European Union and the United States have designated as a terrorist organization. As France strengthens its military ties with Qatar, it simultaneously finds itself more entangled in a relationship with a nation that openly backs Hamas. This relationship came into sharper focus recently, when President Macron announced a suspension of arms deliveries to Israel, despite the fact that France hasn’t provided arms to Israel in over five decades. In contrast, Qatar continues to be a key recipient of French arms, further complicating France’s ability to confront Qatar’s involvement with Hamas.

Energy Dependence: France’s Vulnerability

One of the most critical elements of France’s relationship with Qatar is energy. Qatar holds significant stakes in TotalEnergies, a key player in Europe’s energy security, especially in the context of Europe’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian gas. France’s dependence on Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) makes it even less likely to challenge Qatar over its support for Hamas, as any disruption in energy supplies could have severe consequences for France’s economy.

Qatar’s dominance in the LNG market, coupled with its strategic investments in France’s energy sector, places France in a precarious position. Even as Qatar funnels money to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid to Gaza, France remains largely silent, unwilling to jeopardize its access to Qatari gas. The need for energy security has become a key weakness in France’s foreign policy, making it difficult to confront Qatar on issues like Hamas without risking significant economic repercussions.

Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy: Qatar’s Shield

Qatar’s use of soft power in France provides it with a layer of protection from international criticism. Through cultural partnerships, including sponsorships at institutions like the Louvre and the Arab World Institute, Qatar has embedded itself deeply into French society. Moreover, Qatar’s media arm, Al Jazeera, operates a French-language channel, AJ+, which helps shape narratives that align with Qatar’s political interests, including its support for Hamas.

This media presence allows Qatar to influence public discourse in France, further ensuring that any criticism of its foreign policy, particularly regarding Hamas, is downplayed. Al Jazeera has long been accused of promoting pro-Hamas rhetoric, further aligning France’s media environment with Qatar’s political goals. This cultural and media influence complements Qatar’s economic and diplomatic ties, making it even harder for France to take a strong stance against Qatar’s destabilizing role in the Middle East.

France’s Hands Tied by Qatar’s Influence

Qatar has masterfully built a network of economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties with France that makes it nearly impossible for the French government to challenge Qatar’s backing of Hamas. France’s dependence on Qatari investments, energy, and military deals has effectively paralyzed its ability to criticize Qatar’s financial support for Hamas. As a result, France indirectly contributes to the survival of Hamas, unable—or unwilling—to confront Qatar’s destructive influence in the Middle East.

The recent gesture of halting arms deliveries to Israel two days before the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks was nothing more than a symbolic move, as France hasn’t supplied arms to Israel in 57 years. However, France’s ongoing arms sales to Qatar tell a different story—one in which France continues to equip a nation that is widely acknowledged as a supporter of Hamas. This glaring contradiction in France’s foreign policy illustrates the depth of Qatar’s influence over Paris, ensuring that France remains entangled in a web of complicity regarding the rise of Hamas.

France’s global ambitions and energy needs, along with its deep economic ties to Qatar, have compromised its ability to act independently. While Qatar positions itself as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts, its financial and political support for Hamas tells a different story—one that France, through its silence and inaction, is complicit in supporting.