Fact-Check: Qatar's alleged gas supply threat amid Israel-Hamas conflict debunked
Over the last few days, social media platforms have been buzzing with claims regarding an alleged threat made by Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, pertaining to global gas supplies.
According to these posts, the Emir reportedly warned of cutting off gas supplies to the world if Israel did not cease its bombing of Gaza, following a terrorist attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7.
However, thorough investigation and fact-checking efforts have debunked these claims. No credible news reports, official statements from Qatari government sources, or mentions in Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Qatar on October 13 have substantiated these allegations. In a news conference held during Blinken's visit, there was no mention of gas supplies, further discrediting the rumors.
#BREAKING: The State of Qatar threatened to stop gas supplies to the world if the bombing of Gaza did not stop
— Royal Intel 👑 (@RoyalIntel_) October 11, 2023
The source of the misinformation was traced back to a now-suspended Twitter account named "@qattar_affairs," previously known as "@Qatar_Affairs." Marc Owen Jones, a respected Middle East studies professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar, identified these accounts as fake news sources, emphasizing their lack of credibility.
Additionally, Qatar, being the third-largest exporter of natural gas, plays a important role in the global energy market. Despite this, no genuine threats or statements regarding gas supply disruptions have been made by the Qatari government or its officials.
Conclusion: The claim that Qatar's Emir threatened to withhold gas supplies to the world due to the Israel-Hamas conflict is unequivocally false.
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Iran war halts Marathwada turmeric exports, prices drop in domestic market
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): The ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has halted turmeric exports from Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, causing domestic prices to crash from Rs 16,500 to Rs 13,000 per quintal.
Shiv Sena MLC Hemant Patil on Tuesday said that turmeric cultivated in Marathwada is exported to the Gulf and African countries, but the war that broke out last month has halted exports completely.
Turmeric is a cash crop cultivated in nearly 2 lakh acres in Hingoli district, and the Vasmat variety received a Geographical Identification (GI) tag in 2024.
Containers of turmeric from Hingoli and adjoining regions are shipped out of the country from Tamil Nadu and Kerala after processing, said Patil, who also heads the Balasaheb Thackeray Turmeric Research and Training Centre in Hingoli.
"Hingoli, Nanded, Wardha, Parbhani, Yavatmal and Washim are the turmeric belts in Marathwada. These districts produce nearly 25 lakh tonnes of the crop. The land under turmeric cultivation in Hingoli district alone is around 2 lakh hectares," he said.
Prakash Soni, a turmeric trader from Hingoli, said the Iran war has not only completely halted the exports, but the price of the produce in the domestic market has also taken a hit.
"Before the war, turmeric was being sold at Rs 16,500 per quintal. The price has now reached Rs 13,000. The price will drop further if the war continues," he said.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India exported turmeric worth USD 341.54 million in 2024-25, with Maharashtra alone accounting for USD 155.35 million.
The produce was exported to Bangladesh, the UAE, the US, Malaysia and Morocco.
