Qatar has warned it is reassessing its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, raising concerns about the prospects for a ceasefire and hostage return.
Will Qatar withdraw from its role as intermediary between Israel and Hamas?
Since Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on October 7 triggered a devastating retaliation against Gaza, Qatar has become a key conduit for Palestinian militants, which have political offices in Doha.
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The gas-rich emirate, which also hosts the region's largest US military base, successfully brokered a week-long cessation of fighting in late November, with the release of a number of Israeli and foreign hostages.
But with months of further negotiations failing to win a ceasefire and Qatar facing criticism, particularly from Israel, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday called Qatar's role “completely”. “The time has come to re-evaluate the situation,” he said.
Qatar has for months rejected Israeli criticism of the mediation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others.
The Qatari embassy in Washington also called on Doha to put pressure on Hamas in a statement Tuesday, criticizing Rep. Steny Hoyer, the top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, who has urged the administration to reconsider its relationship with Qatar. For the release of hostages.
Without naming individuals, Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar was the victim of “point-scoring” by “politicians who are trying to campaign by disrespecting the state of Qatar.”
Middle East expert James Dorsey said the prime minister's comments showed “Qatar is fighting back rather than seriously considering abandoning mediation,” adding that mediation is “an important part of the country's soft power.” He said that it is a “pillar”.
He explained that while Qatar primarily targeted “supporters of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US Congress,” there were also “attempts to pressure the Biden administration to stand up for Qatar.”
Gulf expert Andreas Krieg said Qatar had played a “key role” in securing the November hostage exchange, but that the emirate “remains disappointed that this is not recognized by everyone, especially Israel”. I'm very dissatisfied.”
But he also said that after “dominating this relationship in ways that Qatar can do that no one else can do,” it is “hard to believe that it would be truly sincere for Qatar to seek to withdraw from this mediation effort.” Stated.
Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations over the lack of progress on a framework proposed by Qatar, the United States and Egypt to halt fighting in Gaza for six weeks and exchange about 40 hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. It's here.
Issues include long-standing demands by Hamas for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which Israeli authorities have repeatedly opposed.
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad said last week that Hamas's rejection of the latest offer shows the extremist group “does not want a humanitarian agreement or the return of the hostages.”
-Will the talks end without Qatar? –
Hamas's political office has been based in Qatar since 2012 at the request of the United States.
Krieg said Qatar has become “indispensable” to mediation, and although Egypt is also involved, “the Egyptians don't have a Qatari approach.”
“I think mediation could continue without the Egyptians, but it could not continue without the Qataris,” said the King's College London academic.
“If Qatar reduces or ends its role in the negotiations, the pressure to oust Hamas will increase,” Dorsey said.
Algeria, Lebanon and Iran, Hamas's main backers, have been touted as strongholds for leadership if Hamas leaves Qatar.
“If all of a sudden it's Iran, who are the Americans and Israelis going to talk to to go to Hamas?” Dorsey said.
Sheikh Mohammed announced the reassessment of Qatar alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who met for three hours with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in Doha on Wednesday.
Haniya is scheduled to visit Turkey this weekend as a guest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“If for some reason Qatar is forced to give in or reduce its role in negotiations, Turkey is the candidate,” Dorsey said.
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