Qatar has stepped down as a primary mediator in efforts for a ceasefire and hostage exchange in Gaza and informed Hamas that its office in Doha “no longer serves its purpose,” according to a report by news agency AFP on Saturday (Nov 9).
“The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate. As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose,” reported the news agency citing a diplomatic source.
As per the report, Qatar had already “notified both sides, Israel and Hamas as well as the US administration” about its decision.
“The Qataris conveyed to the US administration that they would be ready to re-engage in mediation when both sides… demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table,” the source said.
No specific date has been set for Hamas’ departure from Doha, and according to a diplomat cited by The Times of Israel, such a move will not happen immediately. The diplomat further noted that Qatar’s decision isn’t necessarily final and might change if both sides show a commitment to fair negotiations.
“We have nothing to confirm or deny regarding what was published by an unidentified diplomatic source and we have not received any request to leave Qatar,” an official from Doha told AFP.
For months, Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has engaged in talks aimed at reaching a truce between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. The mediators have held several rounds of talks between the warring parties to secure the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners from Israel.
In April, Qatar announced it was reconsidering its role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict, facing criticism from US and Israeli lawmakers.
At that point, Qatar reportedly conveyed a similar position concerning the presence of the Palestinian militant group’s office in Doha, leading Hamas officials to temporarily relocate to Turkey.
However, after two weeks, they returned at the request of both the US and Israel, as negotiations were “ineffective” while they were based in Turkey, said the diplomatic source.
Aside from a one-week ceasefire late last year, which saw many hostages held by Hamas released, repeated negotiation efforts have been unable to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
