Qatar has paused its mediation efforts in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, awaiting clear signs of commitment from both parties to end the war, according to a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari. The move comes after nearly a year of unsuccessful attempts to facilitate a ceasefire and negotiate a hostage-release deal. Qatar informed the involved parties ten days earlier that it would halt its mediation if an agreement was not reached during the latest negotiation efforts.
Despite reports suggesting that Hamas has been expelled from Qatar, Ansari clarified that the group’s political office in Doha remains operational, serving as a communication channel crucial for previous ceasefire achievements. The Gulf nation, alongside the United States and Egypt, has been entrenched in prolonged, fruitless negotiations, and recent in-person talks initiated by Qatar and the U.S. also failed to yield results.
A diplomatic source disclosed that Qatar had decided to pull back from mediation due to a perceived lack of genuine negotiation intentions. The source further explained that the Hamas office in Qatar temporarily relocated to Turkey amid criticism but returned at the behest of the U.S. and Israel as negotiations stalled in Turkey.
Qatar, which reassessed its mediator role in April, concluded that its mediation efforts risked being exploited for political gain rather than progressing toward peace. The country alerted both the U.S. administration and the conflicting parties that it would not serve as a pawn for political leverage or to manipulate public perception while the conflict remains unresolved. Despite previous short-lived respite from fighting, lasting peace remains elusive, compounded by political distractions tied to upcoming U.S. elections. Qatar stands firm on recommencing its mediation role only when a sincere intent for peace is demonstrated by both Israel and Hamas.
Original Story https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/qatar-says-halts-gaza-mediation-until-israel-hamas-show-seriousness-101731185176417.html
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Publish Date: 2024-11-10 02:42:00
