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Article snippet: The crisis over Qatar that is gripping the Middle East hinges on an alleged $1 billion ransom that was reportedly paid to release members of Qatar’s royal family and others who were kidnapped in Iraq. That payment appears to be the breaking point in the tense relationship between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries in the region, according to one report earlier this month. On Tuesday, the State Department said it was “mystified” that Gulf states had not given reasons for their decision to cut off of land, air and sea transport to Qatar. "The more time goes by, the more doubt is raised about the actions taken by Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” said a State Department spokeswoman. "At this point we are left with one simple question: Were the actions really about their concerns regarding Qatar's alleged support for terrorism, or were they about the long-simmering grievances between and among the [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries?" she said. But a report from the Financial Times earlier this month pointed to a nine-figure sum that was paid in a hostage deal as the catalyst for the crisis. The money allegedly went to an al-Qaeda affiliate fighting in Syria, along with Iranian security officials, according to the report. Qatar’s support for Iran, a rival of the other Gulf states, has long been a source of tension. The Financial Times says it spoke with several individuals on each side of the swap, though all the sources are anony... Link to the full article to read more