Qatar is a U.S. ally and hosts a large U.S. military base
Doha, Qatar:
Texas A&M University will close its Qatar campus, the American university said on Friday, blaming insecurity in the Middle East for the move, which drew criticism from partners in the Gulf emirate.
“Due to increased instability in the Middle East, the decision was made to re-evaluate the university’s physical presence in Qatar in the fall of 2023,” the university said.
“The Board of Trustees has determined that Texas A&M’s core mission should be advanced primarily within the state of Texas and the United States,” Chairman Bill Mahomes said in a statement.
The campus opened in 2003 and is expected to take four years to wind down.
U.S. universities have faced intense political scrutiny, including accusations of anti-Semitism, since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7 triggered the war in Gaza.
Qatar is a U.S. ally and is home to a large U.S. military base, an office of Hamas and the main residence of its leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The wealthy Gulf state, backed by Washington, serves as a communication channel with Hamas and plays a key role in negotiating a new truce in Gaza, as Palestinian militants released more than 100 soldiers during a week-long truce last year. Like a hostage. November.
The Qatar Foundation, which works with Texas A&M and six other U.S. universities, said the decision was “influenced by a disinformation campaign aimed at harming QF’s interests.”
“It is disturbing that this disinformation has been a determining factor in the decision… without taking into account the significant positive impact this partnership brings to Qatar and the United States,” the nonprofit said, without elaborating.
Texas A&M has previously been forced to deny baseless accusations that its presence in Qatar gave the Gulf state access to sensitive research.
U.S. Ambassador to Qatar Timmy Davis said he was “disappointed that Texas A&M University has taken steps to close its Qatar campus.”
The campus, he said, “represents (American) values and inspires innovation among students who might not otherwise receive an American education.”
According to AFP statistics based on official Israeli data, Hamas’s attacks on Israel resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,160 people, most of whom were civilians.
In response, Israel vowed to root out Hamas and launched airstrikes and ground offensives that killed at least 27,947 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-controlled areas.
Israel says militants have taken 250 hostages, 132 of whom are still in Gaza, but 29 are presumed dead.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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