World Bulletin / News Desk

Qataris on Friday appeared upbeat despite the tiny Gulf state’s ongoing diplomatic crisis.

Many, however, also voiced anger over moves by fellow Arab countries to cut diplomatic relations -- and food supplies -- during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Awad al-Khalid, a Qatari citizen of Syrian origin who runs a restaurant in capital Doha, said he had yet to feel the effects of the sanctions.

Noting Qatar’s strong economy and longstanding political affiliations, he said: “I don't think the Gulf Cooperation Council will allow this crisis to continue.”

“If they [the states that cut ties with Doha] don't reverse course, Qatar has a number of alternatives it can rely on, such as Turkey, Iran and Russia,” he added.

Al-Khalid went on to assert that the sanctions currently aimed at Qatar constituted a violation of human rights.

“It’s disturbing to see Muslim countries behaving like this. We’re all Muslims; cutting food supplies during Ramadan is in very bad taste,” he said.

“The decision to embargo Qatar was taken by leaders, not the Muslim community,” he added. “At first people panicked, but now daily life has returned to normal.”

“The main reason for this aggressive attitude towards Qatar is hostility on the part of [U.S. President] Donald Trump and the GCC towards Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood,” al-Khalid said.

He went on to point to Turkey’s role, saying: “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a smart leader; he knows what he’s doing. He won’t abandon us.”

Dismissing allegations that Qataris were worried, Rashid, a Qatari citizen who preferred not to give his last name, said: “We aren’t worried, we’re angry.”

He added: “We are deeply upset over these sanctions against Qatar, which we did nothing to deserve.”

Jeila Jemil al-Tamimi, a woman of Palestinian origin who has lived in Qatar for more than 30 years, told Anadolu Agency: “The markets are brimming with products. We still have all our everyday needs. The media isn’t telling the truth in this regard.”

Noting that most Qataris were pleased with Turkey's stated support for Qatar, al-Tamimi added: “The Turkish position is a stand against cruelty. There’s a propaganda campaign being waged against our country.”