Qatar denies Iranian report that its emir said Israel was escalating against Iran to divert attention from Gaza

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Qatar forcefully denies an Iran state-run news agency report that its emir told Iran’s president that Israel is trying to divert the world’s attention from its “crimes in Gaza” by escalating tensions against Tehran.

A senior Qatari official tells The Times of Israel that Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani never made such comments during the call with Ibrahim Raisi.

“Contrary to the interpretations suggested, the main focus of his highness’s message was an earnest appeal for de-escalation and the promotion of peace in the region,” the official says.

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