By Qatar announced Saturday it has suspended its crucial mediation role between Hamas and Israel, citing frustration with both parties’ unwillingness to negotiate a Gaza cease-fire deal in good faith, as violence continues across the region.
The decision, confirmed by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, comes after the Biden administration urged Qatar two weeks ago to expel Hamas’s political office from Doha, deeming its continued presence no longer useful for peace negotiations.
“Qatar will resume those efforts with its partners when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians,” al-Ansari said through the state-run Qatar News Agency.
A diplomatic source briefed on the matter said Qatar informed both sides it cannot continue mediation “as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith” and warned Hamas it must leave if unwilling to engage in serious negotiations. A senior Hamas official acknowledged awareness of Qatar’s decision but said “no one told us to leave.”
The suspension of talks coincides with continued violence across the region. Israeli forces struck command centers in Beirut’s southern suburbs and other locations in Lebanon, while Palestinian health officials reported at least 16 people killed Saturday in Gaza strikes, including attacks on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City and the courtyard of central Gaza’s main hospital.
Hamas maintains its position requiring a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and end to the war before any cease-fire deal, while Israel demands the return of all hostages taken in Hamas’ October 7 attack and insists on maintaining a military presence in Gaza.
An Egyptian official familiar with the negotiations said Qatar would likely resume its mediator role if both sides demonstrate “serious political willingness” to reach an agreement. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
Should Hamas leadership need to relocate, Iran, Turkey, and Lebanon emerge as potential destinations given the group’s existing relationships in those countries. The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment on the developments.
The diplomatic setback occurs as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. While Israel announced the first delivery of aid in weeks to the territory’s northern region, Israeli strikes persist. A pregnant woman and child were among those killed in Gaza City, according to the Health Ministry, while an attack on Khan Younis in southern Gaza left seven dead, Nasser Hospital reported.
