Qatar Rebukes Netanyahu Over Criticism of Mediation Role in Gaza War
In a leaked recording, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Qatar’s role as a mediator in the Gaza war, calling it “problematic.” Qatar has since rebuked Netanyahu’s remarks, stating that they are “irresponsible and destructive to the efforts to save innocent lives.” The Gulf state has been actively engaged in negotiations with Egypt to broker a truce in Gaza and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.
Qatar’s mediation efforts have yielded positive results in the past. In November, the country helped secure a weeklong pause in fighting, leading to the release of over 100 captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Currently, Qatar remains involved in talks aimed at securing a new deal for the release of approximately 130 captives still being held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.
However, Netanyahu’s leaked comments have been detrimental to these ongoing efforts. Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that if the reported remarks are true, the Israeli Prime Minister would be obstructing and undermining the mediation process. Al-Ansari believes that Netanyahu’s comments serve his political career rather than prioritizing saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages.
Netanyahu’s criticism of Qatar’s mediation efforts reflects his frustration over his failures in the war. Qatar has successfully mediated between Israelis and Hamas on multiple occasions, which has led to Netanyahu’s desperation to shift blame onto others. Hassan Barari, a professor at Qatar University, believes that Netanyahu wants everyone to do things his way but fails to convince his own people that he is doing the right thing.
Qatar has played a significant role in providing aid to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. In cooperation with the Israeli government, Qatar has sent millions of dollars in aid to prevent the situation in Gaza from exploding due to restrictions and blockades imposed by Israel since 2007. The blockade has severely limited the flow of people and goods into and out of the coastal territory.
In response to Qatar’s criticism, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused Qatar of supporting terrorism. He claimed that Qatar is the patron of Hamas and is largely responsible for the attacks on Israeli citizens. Smotrich’s comments reflect the far-right ruling coalition’s push for an escalation of the war on Gaza.
Despite Hamas proposing an end to the conflict and the release of captives in exchange for withdrawing Israeli forces, releasing prisoners, and accepting the armed group’s governance of Gaza, Netanyahu rejected the proposal. This rejection has further strained the situation in Gaza, with Palestinian officials reporting a significant number of casualties resulting from Israeli attacks.
The leaked recording of Netanyahu’s criticism of Qatar’s mediation role has sparked controversy and raised questions about his motives. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how this will impact the ongoing negotiations and efforts to bring peace to Gaza.