Qatar ends role in Gaza ceasefire mediation, tells Hamas to leave

DOHA,— Qatar announced it is pausing mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and hostages release deal, citing insufficient “willingness and seriousness” from both Hamas and Israel to re-engage in talks.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry’s statement on Saturday reflects growing frustration after months of unsuccessful negotiations coordinated with Egypt and the United States.

The diplomatic efforts, primarily based in Doha, were intended to ease tensions and make progress toward a resolution. But with little progress made, Qatar’s potential retreat from mediation could complicate an already challenging situation, as it has been one of the few countries maintaining open communication channels with Hamas.

Rumors had circulated about potential changes to Hamas’s political office in Doha, after a report claimed that Washington had pressed Qatar to close the office. The Qatari government, however, dismissed these reports, though it did not provide further details. Reuters had earlier reported that a U.S. official claimed Qatar had delivered a message to Hamas about the possibility of closing their political offices.

An official familiar with the developments indicated that Qatar sees no benefit to hosting Hamas if its mediation efforts are put on hold. Meanwhile, three unnamed Hamas officials stated that Qatar has yet to notify them of any policy changes regarding their presence.

Since 2012, Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political leadership under an agreement with the United States aimed at supporting peace negotiations. These efforts have made significant strides, including brokering a brief ceasefire and facilitating a hostage exchange last year.

The current conflict intensified on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on Israeli towns, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of 253 hostages. Israel’s ongoing military response has caused extensive destruction in Gaza and led to the deaths of approximately 43,500 Palestinians.

Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that it had informed both Hamas and Israel ten days ago of its decision to pause its mediation attempts if no progress was achieved, emphasizing that Qatar will only return to the table when both sides demonstrate genuine commitment to ending hostilities.

In recent rounds of discussions, Hamas rejected a short-term ceasefire proposal, and Israel opposed some longer-term truce options. These negotiations have been complicated by questions around the future role of Hamas and Israel’s presence in Gaza.

The U.S. has reportedly conveyed its concerns to Qatar over Hamas’s continued presence in Doha, saying it poses a problem for regional stability. As of now, Qatar has not set any specific deadline for Hamas officials to leave, though changes to the group’s Doha-based leadership remain under consideration.

Qatar has historically served as a strategic intermediary in the Middle East, fostering dialogue between Western nations and regional adversaries. Besides hosting Hamas and Afghanistan’s Taliban offices, it has helped broker agreements, such as last year’s prisoner exchange deal between the U.S. and Iran.

The current uncertainty extends to Hamas’s future leadership, especially following the death of Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, killed by Israeli forces. Possible successors, such as Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Meshaal, continue to reside in Qatar.

Qatar, a Salafi Muslim country, has long faced accusations of backing various Islamist groups, including Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as extremist organizations like the Islamic State (IS). Over the years, Qatar has provided financial support to groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, fueling international criticism.

In 2017, then-U.S. President Donald Trump publicly condemned Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorism “at a very high level,” and demanded an end to this support, calling for “no more funding.” Qatar has also allegedly backed other Salafi groups across the region, reportedly providing advanced weaponry and funding to extremist factions in conflict zones like Syria and Libya.

Additionally, Qatar’s Al Jazeera network has come under scrutiny for airing content featuring clerics who advocate violence against Western countries and Israel. Qatar’s backing of the Taliban in Afghanistan has added to this criticism.

In June 2017, these issues led Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt to impose a blockade on Qatar, accusing it of destabilizing the region and fostering ties with Saudi rival Iran.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) blockade was lifted in January 2021, though tensions continue to shape Qatar’s diplomatic relationships within the region.

(With files from Reuters | Agencies)