Qatar pauses mediation efforts in Gaza conflict

Gulf country demands proof of goodwill from Hamas, Israel; Hamas dismisses reports of expelling Hamas’s Doha office

DOHA, QATAR:

Qatar has informed both Hamas and Israel that it will pause its mediation efforts in Gaza to establish a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages until both sides demonstrate a genuine intent to engage in negotiations, according to its foreign ministry on Saturday.

For months, Qatar has worked with the United States and Egypt in seeking an agreement between the conflicting parties in Gaza. If Qatar steps back from this role, it could further hinder efforts toward a resolution.

Additionally, Qatar's ministry dismissed reports on the possible expulsion of Hamas’s political office from Doha as inaccurate, though no specific clarifications were provided. A Reuters report on Friday cited a US official stating that Washington had requested Qatar to expel Hamas, and that Qatar had conveyed this request to the group.

An official familiar with the situation said that with Qatar’s mediation currently on hold, the presence of Hamas’s political office in Doha “no longer serves its purpose.”

However, three Hamas officials, speaking confidentially, indicated that they had not been notified of any change to their status in Qatar.

Since 2012, Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders in Doha as part of an agreement with the US, facilitating dialogue and negotiations. Tensions escalated on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched an attack on Israeli communities, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking another 253 as hostages. Israel’s subsequent military actions have devastated much of Gaza and led to the deaths of an estimated 43,500 Palestinians.

Talks in mid-October failed to yield a ceasefire, with Hamas rejecting a short-term truce proposal, and Israel previously dismissing proposals for extended truces. Key disagreements continue over the future of Hamas and Israel's influence in Gaza.

The United States had, in recent weeks, urged Qatar to reassess Hamas’s presence in Doha following the group’s rejection of October’s truce proposal. Although Qatar has not imposed a deadline for Hamas’s political office to close, it is re-evaluating its role in light of these developments.

Qatar's foreign ministry highlighted that the Hamas office had previously served as a line of communication, contributing to a brief ceasefire and limited hostage exchange last year.

A US official noted that in April, Qatar had initially reconsidered hosting Hamas, leading some of its members to relocate to Turkey. However, two weeks later, the Biden administration and Israel requested their return, arguing that their absence hindered negotiations.

As a major non-NATO ally to the United States, Qatar plays a unique role as a bridge between Western nations and their regional adversaries. Hosting the largest US airbase in the Middle East, Qatar also accommodates offices for both Hamas and the Taliban and has recently facilitated a US-Iran prisoner exchange.