Keeping Jerusalem question alive: about Qatar's efforts to stand with Jerusalemites

Jerusalemites (Maqdisis) constitute one of the most vulnerable Palestinian communities, subjected to systematic Israeli policies aimed at uprooting them from their holy city, which has endured a century of organised Judaisation. With limited resources, Palestinians alone cannot withstand the dual pressures of Zionist colonial expansion and the Judaising of holy sites. At a time when multiple Arab and Muslim states –most notably two Gulf countries– have moved towards normalisation with the Zionist state through formal agreements such as the Abraham Accords, this study acquires particular significance by examining initiatives that diverge from this trajectory. Specifically, it investigates Qatar’s diplomatic and on‑ground efforts to support Jerusalemites and to sustain solidarity with their cause amid widespread political abandonment. The paper focuses on Qatar’s policies and initiatives during the pre‑Tufan al‑Aqsa period, highlighting its strategies to mobilise international attention to the Palestinian question and to reinforce Palestinian resilience through tangible measures on the ground. While the primary analytical framework predates October 2023, the study also acknowledges Qatar’s continued engagement during the Israeli genocide in Gaza, underscoring its pivotal role in mediation, humanitarian diplomacy, and the preservation of the Jerusalem question within global consciousness.