Qatar has officially announced the temporary suspension of its role as a mediator between Hamas and Israel following reports of US pressure to close the Palestinian group’s political office in Doha.
On Saturday, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, addressed the situation, refuting claims that Qatar had pulled out of its mediation efforts.
Al-Ansari described these reports as inaccurate, stating that the primary objective of maintaining Hamas' office in Doha has always been to facilitate communication between relevant parties.
He pointed out that this channel has played a key role in brokering ceasefires in previous rounds of conflict and in facilitating humanitarian exchanges, such as the release of women and children hostages in November of last year.
Al-Ansari confirmed that Qatar had informed both Hamas and Israel ten days ago of its intention to suspend mediation efforts if no agreement was reached during the latest round of negotiations.
He added that Qatar would resume its mediation once there was a genuine commitment to ending the war and alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
However, the spokesperson also made it clear that Qatar would not allow its mediation efforts to be used for political leverage.
He stated that since the collapse of the initial ceasefire and the subsequent prisoner exchanges, Qatar had witnessed manipulations aimed at undermining previously agreed-upon commitments. He condemned the use of negotiations to justify continued violence and narrow political agendas.
Qatar’s commitment to the Palestinian cause remains steadfast, with the country continuing to advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
A diplomatic source confirmed to Agence France-Presse that Qatar had withdrawn from its mediation role, informing Hamas that its office in Doha was no longer serving its intended purpose.
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