DEIR AL-BALAH, (Gaza Strip) Qatar has temporarily halted its mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, citing frustration over the lack of progress on a cease-fire agreement in Gaza. The suspension was announced on Saturday, raising questions about the future role of Hamas leaders currently based in Qatar. While it remains uncertain whether they will be required to leave, Hamas still maintains strong ties with countries like Iran, Turkey, and has some leaders in Lebanon.
Despite this, Qatar has indicated it is open to resuming mediation if both parties show genuine political will to reach an agreement. An Egyptian official, who is also involved in mediation, stated that Qatar would return to negotiations if both sides demonstrated a serious commitment to dialogue.
Qatar conveyed to both Hamas and Israel that it cannot continue mediating as long as there is a lack of good faith in negotiations. A diplomatic source revealed that Qatar had informed Hamas that their political office in Doha would lose its purpose unless the group was prepared to engage seriously in discussions.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has weighed in on the matter, with an American official disclosing that the Biden administration had advised Qatar to expel the Hamas delegation two weeks ago, deeming their presence in Doha no longer constructive. Following this, Qatar informed the Hamas delegation of its decision 10 days ago, after Hamas rejected the latest cease-fire proposal.
A senior Hamas official acknowledged Qatar’s suspension of mediation but claimed that they had not been explicitly told to leave. Hamas has continued to call for an end to the conflict, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as a precondition for a cease-fire, while Israel insists on the return of hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, attack and seeks to maintain a presence in Gaza.
On the ground, tensions remain high, with ongoing violence between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and continuous airstrikes in Gaza. In Gaza, Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least 16 people, including in incidents that targeted shelters and residential areas. The Israeli military reported that some aid had finally reached northern Gaza, but humanitarian efforts have been significantly hampered by the conflict, with emergency services in the north completely nonfunctional.
The protracted conflict, which has caused widespread displacement and devastation, continues to impact civilians on both sides, with no clear end in sight. As international pressure mounts, Qatar and other mediators remain on standby, awaiting renewed willingness for peace negotiations.
