Qatari officials have denied an Israeli report claiming that the non-profit organisation Qatar Foundation International has closed its educational operations in the US.
The misleading report said that the NGO, affiliated with the state-led Qatar Foundation , was ceasing activities in the US after 17 years, claiming it was "an end of a major Qatari effort to influence educational institutions in the country".
Speaking to The New Arab, the sources refuted the report’s claims, saying it was part of an ongoing campaign against Doha.
The report also falsely claimed that Qatar Foundation International had issued a statement announcing the cessation of its activities. According to its website, the foundation continues to offer new grants and programmes for teaching Arabic across American educational institutions and maintains its operational headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In recent days, Qatar Foundation International announced new academic partnerships with American universities, indicating the continuation of its educational collaborations with Washington.
Qatar has long been subjected to a smear campaign from pro-Israel lobbyists , which has intensified since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in 2023, as Doha has hosted Hamas members while playing a key role in mediation efforts to end the brutal conflict.
It has also and provided financial aid to Palestinians in the enclave in response to Israel’s ongoing blockade.
Qatar had its role undermined by Israel during ceasefire talks aimed at bringing an end to the war. Tel Aviv has additionally gone on to restrict Qatari-owned news outlets , notably Al Jazeera , by shutting down its office, seizing equipment, and barring its broadcast in Israel.
Israeli news outlets have published reports over the years claiming that the Qatar Foundation is going "beyond" teaching Arabic across US institutions and is "seeking to influence" political narratives surrounding the Middle East and Israel.
Qatar has previously rejected such claims, stressing that it is solely an educational institution focused on supporting Arabic language education and cultural exchange in the United States, and beyond.
Additionally, Qatari sources have repeatedly stated that the American universities operating in Education City in Doha maintain their academic independence and their own standards, and that their presence in Qatar is part of a long-standing international academic collaboration.
Qatari officials have also stressed that funding for foreign grants and contracts is transparent and subject to US disclosure rules, suggesting that some criticisms are part of a political agenda.