Qatar To Pause Gaza Ceasefire Mediation

Qatar will stop trying to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal until Hamas and Israel show a “sincere willingness” to return to the negotiating table, an official briefed on the matter said on Saturday, in the biggest setback to efforts to reach a truce since the war began.

The small but influential Gulf country has also concluded that Hamas’ political office in Doha “no longer serves its purpose“, the official added, in a further blow to the Palestinian militant group whose top leaders have been assassinated by Israel.

Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, has played a major role in rounds of so-far fruitless talks to broker a ceasefire to the year-long war in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages Hamas is holding in the enclave. The latest round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

“The Qataris have said since the start of the conflict that they can only mediate when both parties demonstrate a genuine interest in finding a resolution,” the official said.

Qatar has not set a deadline for Hamas’ political office to close or for Hamas leaders to leave Qatar, and it was unclear if the move could be reversed.

Qatar informed Hamas, Israel, and the U.S. administration that it would be willing to resume its negotiating role if Hamas and Israel “demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiation table with the objective of putting an end to the war,” the official said.

There was no official response from Hamas.

A Palestinian official close to the mediation talks said: “Hamas may not comment unless it is informed officially by Qatar. So far, it is media talk.”

Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq