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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Cong leader Joseph criticises public tussle by party supporters over Kerala CM post
Kottayam (Kerala) (PTI): Senior Congress leader K C Joseph on Saturday criticised the public tussle by party supporters over the Kerala chief minister post, warning that taking internal matters to the streets could have dangerous consequences.
He was referring to protests, flex boards and posters put up by supporters of Congress leaders V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, who are being considered for the chief minister’s post.
Joseph was a Congress MLA for 39 years, representing the Irikkur constituency in Kannur and had served as a minister in the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government.
In a Facebook post, Joseph said he was remaining silent because "silence is preferable".
He said everyone should realise that taking the internal affairs of the Congress onto the streets would create dangerous consequences.
Joseph also remarked that "if one spits while lying down, it will fall on one’s own face".
According to him, such public disagreements would ultimately harm the party itself.
He further criticised the protest demonstrations held in Thiruvananthapuram, saying that they had hurt many party supporters, as the image of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was allegedly torn, knowingly or unknowingly.
"This is not good for anyone. Trying to scratch one’s head with a burning stick will be disastrous," he said in the post.
The Congress won 63 seats of its own in the 140-member assembly, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance has won 102 seats, staging a comeback in the southern state.
