The Gulf Emirate’s Foreign Ministry denied reports that its role as a mediator in the indirect negotiations between the conflicting parties would end. However, Qatar informed them ten days ago that the country would suspend its role as mediator if there was no agreement in this round, said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari. In principle, Qatar is still ready to make its contribution to an agreement.
“Qatar will continue these efforts with its partners if the parties show the will and seriousness to end the brutal war,” he said. It initially remained unclear whether Qatar’s mediation efforts were currently on hold or whether there were still ongoing discussions. The Times of Israel and international media had previously reported, citing diplomatic sources, that Doha was giving up its role as a mediator in view of Israel and Hamas‘s “refusal to negotiate with good will.”
Helpful in hostage exchanges
Since the Gaza war began more than a year ago, Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, helped facilitate the exchange of hostages from Hamas’ violence against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. In November 2023, more than 100 hostages held by Hamas were released during a brief ceasefire. Since then, there have been numerous indirect negotiations between the warring parties about another possible ceasefire, including in the Qatari capital Doha, but no new breakthrough.
Observers suspect that Qatar is threatening to withdraw from its role as a mediator in order to strengthen its power in the region and play different sides against each other.
Qatar is seen as an important mediator thanks to ties with Hamas that date back to the 1990s. > Page 3
dpa
