Qatar, Doha.Photo: depositphotos.
DOHA, 9 November – Qatar, which played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas group in Gaza, has announced a temporary suspension of its mediation activities. According to TimeUkraineIsrael , citing Reuters, this diplomatic initiative will resume only when both sides openly demonstrate their willingness to return to the negotiating table.
This decision is a response to recent failed attempts to reach a truce and conclude an agreement on the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the enclave. According to a representative briefed on the situation, Qatar also no longer considers the function of Hamas’ political office in Doha to be effective, as key leaders of the Palestinian group were killed by the Israeli military in October.
Qatar as a regional intermediary
Qatar, which is a strategic non-NATO ally of the United States, has long sought to facilitate negotiations between Israel and Hamas, also enlisting the support of Egypt and the United States. However, the latest talks, held in mid-October, ended unsuccessfully, with Hamas rejecting a proposal for a short-term ceasefire that would have paved the way for more comprehensive negotiations to end the conflict.
“From the very beginning of the conflict, the Qataris have stressed that they are ready to act as mediators only if both sides show a sincere desire for peace,” the representative commented.
No official response from Hamas
Qatari officials have informed Hamas, Israel and the United States that they are ready to resume negotiations as soon as both sides show a serious interest in ending the conflict. So far, there has been no official response from Hamas. A Palestinian official involved in the talks added that “Hamas may refrain from commenting until an official announcement from Qatar”.
Closure of Hamas political office in Doha
The situation is complicated by the fact that Washington has already made it clear to Doha that the continued presence of Hamas’s political office in Qatar is unacceptable after the failure of the October talks. According to US diplomats, the effectiveness of the negotiations is significantly reduced by the presence of Hamas leaders in Turkey, where they temporarily moved in the spring.
It is known that since 2012, in agreement with American diplomats, Qatar has provided political asylum to key Hamas leaders, who, in particular, discussed a possible peaceful settlement in Doha. However, the current situation has changed dramatically, especially after the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces last month.
Will Qatar be able to maintain its mediating role?
Against the backdrop of numerous international diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Gaza, Qatar is currently facing a dilemma: whether to continue to provide shelter to Hamas leaders in Doha or to make a political decision to permanently end this support. It remains to be seen whether Hamas is ready to make the concessions that Qatar, Israel and the United States expect from it in order to achieve a lasting ceasefire and release of hostages.
