by Marwa Yahya
CAIRO, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Arab states that have severed ties with Qatar "tightened their squeeze" on Friday by putting 12 organizations and 59 people linked with the Gulf oil-rich state on "a terror sanctions list."
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain, along with other countries on Monday cut relations with Qatar and accused it of fomenting instability in the region, sheltering members of terrorist organizations, and intervention in other country's internal affairs.
They have imposed what Qatar says is "a blockade" of shipping and air traffic, and closed Qatar's only land border, causing panic buying at supermarkets and provoking confusion and anxiety across the population.
SCREWS TIGHTENED
Qatar dismissed the terror listing as part of "baseless allegations that hold no foundation in fact."
"The developments intensified a confrontation between Qatar and a group of Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt," said Tariq Fahmy, professor of political sciences with American University in Cairo.
"The sanctions list, which completes Egypt-Gulf procedures against Qatar would further tighten the screws on Doha," Fahmy told Xinhua.
Most of the listed names were known with direct support for terrorism, the expert underlined, "the latest move is one of the Egyptian-Gulf sources for drying up terrorism."
According to Saudi-run Arabiya TV, along with Qataris, many on the list are individuals and groups from Egypt, Bahrain and Libya.
After severing ties with Qatar, Saudi Arabia said it was committed to "decisive and swift action to cut off all funding sources for terrorism."
Fahmy said the sanction list is a deterring tool would restrict Qatar policies of funding or sheltering organizations that target shaking stability in the region, and "would push Qatar for reconciliation."
DIPLOMACY OR ESCALATION
Efforts of mediation are undergoing to ease the tensions, and its repercussion, but no clear sign of progress so far is seen.
Kuwait's ruling Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Saudi on Tuesday to end the rift that Qataris said would lead to their isolation.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday she was concerned about the situation in Qatar, adding that all Gulf nations, and also Iran and Turkey, should work together to find a solution to the regional dispute.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel called on Friday for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
"We are convinced that now is the hour of diplomacy and we must talk to each other; along with our American colleagues but above all our colleagues in the region, we must try to find solutions, especially lifting the sea and air blockades."
U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Qatar to stop supporting terrorism while the U.S. Department of State called the Arab powers to ease pressure on the Gulf state.
The United Arab Emirates on Friday praised Trump's "leadership in challenging Qatar's troubling support for extremism."
Qatari's foreign minister said "Doha was ready for mediation efforts."
The four Arab countries are concerned with "pressing Qatar to review its steps" and "to offer tangible procedures to prove serious good intentions," said Gamal Abdel Gawad, former head of Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies.
However Abdel Gawad sees the Qatari provocative speech hasn't changed since the beginning of the rift.
Finding an exit for Qatar's current isolation is an option of on the table, but would take some time because Qatar equivocates, he added.
Deeming the U.S. stand as "hesitant and not clear," the Ahram expert expected the rift and confrontation would prolong, especially that Qatar attempted to be adapted to the situation as betting on Turkey and Iran support.
Nevertheless, "President Trump's diplomacy in the Middle East is now at stake," said Abdel Gawad, who expected the U.S. administration would take some decisive decisions to end the rift soon.
