Children look on at the destruction after an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip on Thursday. Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images Hide caption
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Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images
Qatar has decided to withdraw from its role as a mediator between Hamas and Israel.
Qatar has suspended mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel after both sides refused to negotiate in good faith, according to a diplomat briefed on the matter. The diplomat spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the meeting.
The small Arab Gulf state, an ally of the United States, has played an important and sensitive role in negotiations between Israel and Palestinian militants since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement that Qatar notified Israel and Hamas 10 days ago that it would halt mediation if the talks did not reach an agreement. But Qatar “will resume engagement with partners once there is the seriousness needed to end the brutal war and continued suffering of civilians,” the spokesperson said.
Last November, Qatar helped broker a temporary ceasefire and helped free more than 100 hostages taken from Israel in the October 7 Hamas-led attack. The short-lived agreement also freed hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
Qatar, which has provided refuge to exiled Hamas leaders for nearly two decades, has said it will no longer host the Palestinian militant group’s political offices.
Hamas was established in the country in 2006 at the request of the George W. Bush administration to accept Qatar’s exiled leadership after winning elections in the Gaza Strip. Since then, multiple U.S. governments have used this back channel to their advantage to deal with groups they can’t ignore but don’t want to talk to directly.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss delicate diplomatic negotiations, said Qatar played an invaluable role in mediating with Hamas to secure the release of the hostages last year.
“However, given Hamas’s repeated refusal to release even a small number of hostages, including during recent meetings in Cairo, a continued presence in Doha is no longer viable or acceptable.” US officials said.
“Hamas is a terrorist group that continues to kill Americans and hold Americans hostage.Having rejected repeated offers to release the hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcomed into the capitals of U.S. partner countries. Not,” the official said.
The official said Qatar requested withdrawal about 10 days ago and that U.S. officials are working closely with Qatar on the issue.
Hamas did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment on where its exiled leadership will be relocated.
NPR’s Asma Khalid contributed reporting.
