Collecting money for Hamas suddenly seems to be a problem: Gulf charities walk tightrope on aid to Hamas.

DOHA (AFP) - Gulf charities say they will stick to official channels in offering any aid to the Palestinian militant group Hamas to avoid charges of bankrolling terror which have haunted them since September 11.

“Charitable organizations are already in the dock, and we don’t want to compound suspicions”, said Ali al-Swaidi, who heads the Qatari charity Eid.

Swaidi was speaking on the sidelines of a two-day conference of Gulf charities in the Qatari capital Doha last week.

Mohammad al-Dhubian of the Saudi “Mecca” charity was more explicit.

“If our rulers allow us to collect funds for Hamas, we will do so. If not, we will refrain,” he told AFP.