The Prime Minister of Qatar stated that Israel must “pay for the reconstruction of Gaza”

Tucker Carlson once again found himself at the center of Middle Eastern discussion. This time — in Doha, where he interviewed Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani. Formally, the conversation concerned regional politics, but Carlson’s line of questioning showed that the goal was different: to provoke the interviewee into making strong statements about Israel’s war with Hamas.

Carlson began with the topic of supporting terrorism, pushing Al Thani towards a direct denial. He did this in his characteristic manner — short lead-ins, long pauses, and attempts to corner the interviewee. Then followed a question about alleged possible Israeli strikes on Doha. This seemed like an attempt to change the framework of the conversation and turn the interview into a provocation.

The last block of questions was even sharper. Carlson demanded an explanation of why Qatar should finance the reconstruction of Gaza if the destruction, as he phrased it, was “inflicted by Israel.” Al Thani noticeably tensed. And at the moment when Carlson suggested he publicly refuse any payments, the interview turned into a debate about the responsibility of the parties.

The Prime Minister’s response was measured. He raised the issue of double standards: if Ukraine receives compensation from Russia, why does Israel not hear similar demands? Al Thani stated directly — Qatar will support the Palestinian people but will not take on the costs for destruction that his country did not cause. In diplomatic circles, this is considered an extremely tough formulation.

Carlson, however, did not relent. He again demanded that Qatar publicly refuse to finance the reconstruction of Gaza. This moment became central — it was picked up by Israeli media, including the “Kan” channel, reporting on Carlson’s pressure on Al Thani.

Context is important. Carlson is one of the most prominent figures of the MAGA movement, close to Donald Trump. His media strategy is built on creating conflict fields where the interlocutor is forced to defend themselves. He does not hide his sympathies for political forces that criticize Israel and has long been trying to secure an interview with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Unsuccessfully — and he uses each new refusal in his public comments.

The interview in Doha itself became part of this logic. Provocative questions, pressure on formulations, attempts to extract political promises from Qatar — all this served not regional analysis, but the strengthening of his own audience in the US, where the Middle Eastern agenda is part of Trump’s rhetoric and his media network.

The political meaning of the conversation turned out to be broader than the plot. Through questions about Gaza, Carlson was effectively testing the reaction of the Qatari leadership while simultaneously strengthening his own position within the right-conservative media field. We continue to publish detailed analyses of such episodes and their impact on the perception of Israel in Anglo-Saxon media at NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, where we analyze how external actors use regional themes in their internal politics.