Will funding Hamas cost Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Protesters have claimed that Qatar should stop funding terror group Hamas or the country should be banned from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Lobbyists from Sussex Friends of Israel (SFI) and Israeli Forum Task Force (IFTF), wore provoking orange boiler suits to surround the Qatar embassy in London on Saturday, ahead of a rally on Monday, The Daily Express reported.

The protesters claim that Qatar is funding Hamas to arm them with weapons when they should be giving cash to rebuild Gaza for the future. More than 1,00,000 people have been left homeless in Gaza following 50 days of conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Organisers read out a petition to Qatar's ruler, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, calling on him to curb funding to the Hamas terrorist organisation and others, especially as the state is set to host the 2022 World Cup.

Hundreds of protesters are expected to march back to the Qatar embassy on Monday in a peaceful protest. Using slogans such as 'Kick Terrorism out of Football', campaigners are hoping to bring their claims to the attention of football fans and the wider public.

Anat Koren, director of IFTF, said that it is about time that people woke up and looked at those who finance terror, and as such enable terror attacks, not just at the organisations themselves. He added that Qatar not only finances known terrorist groups, but also harbours their leaders.

Koren said that such a state cannot be allowed to host a world class event such as the World Cup.

Simon Cobbs, of the SFI fears Qatar's links to Hamas could jeapordise the football tournament. He said that they also have to ask the question if anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport would be allowed to attend the World Cup.