Dubai: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, who had successfully mediated the easing of restrictions on Qatari pilgrims, has called the people of Qatar to hold a meeting and be “messengers of wisdom and peace and advocates for the cohesion of hearts.”

Shaikh Abdullah, whose father Shaikh Ali ruled Qatar from 1949 until 1960 and brother Shaikh Ahmad was emir from 1960 until 1972 when he was deposed by his cousin, the current emir’s grandfather, emerged in public after he was received by Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman as he successfully called for easing travel restrictions on Qataris planning to perform Haj.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5 over accusations of supporting extremists and funding terrorism.

Despite the passage of more than 100 days, there is no breakthrough in the crisis that is taking its toll on the peninsular country.

Now, Shaikh Abdullah wants to bring Qatari nationals together to help end the crisis and find solutions.

“I am truly pained as I see the situation getting worse to the point where there is direct incitement against the security of the Arabian Gulf and calls for interference in the domestic affairs of others,” Shaikh Abdullah posted on his Twitter account.

“We are being pushed towards a situation that we do not want to reach as in the case of other countries that waded into a tunnel of adventure and ended up in chaos, ruin and loss of resources, God forbid.

“Given the current situation, I call the wise and sagacious members of the family and dignitaries of the Qatari people to a brotherly, familial and national meeting in which we will discuss everything related to the crisis and what we can do to restore things to normal and to strengthen the Gulf cohesion.

“My brothers, I am not making this call seeking ostentatiousness or pretension. I became optimistic when I saw how, with the grace of God, I helped facilitate services for Qataris and how in the two times when I was honoured to meet the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz I witnessed his keenness on the safety of Qatar and its people and how the doors are wide open for Qataris.

“It is our duty and responsibility not to lapse into silence during this crisis.”

In his tweet, Shaikh Abdullah mentioned his email address, urging Qataris to communicate with him, promising discretion.

“We will decide the venue and timing of the meeting at a later stage. May God guide us to serve our country and to protect our Gulf cohesion.”