Saudi Arabia accuses Qatar of making a 'declaration of war'


Saudi Arabia is pushing back against a demand it says Qatar made regarding the hajj pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca, calling it a "declaration of war."
The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television network quoted Saudi Arabia's foreign minister as saying Qatar's "demands to internationalize the holy sites is aggressive and a declaration of war against the kingdom. We reserve the right to respond to anyone who is working on the internationalization of the holy sites." Qatar's foreign minister told Al Jazeera his government has no idea what Saudi Arabia is talking about, as no one ever said anything about internationalizing hajj. "We are tired of responding to false information and stories invented from nothing," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said.
What Qatar did say on Saturday is that it's worried Qataris will have a hard time attending hajj this year because of the severed diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Reuters reports. Earlier this summer, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain joined forces against Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terror groups, and demanded that Qatar meet 13 requirements before they would re-establish diplomatic ties.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
6 perfect gifts for travel lovers
The Week Recommends The best trip is the one that lives on and on
-
How can you get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?
the explainer These steps can help boost the Social Security amount you receive
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department