Qatar Has Quit As A Gaza Ceasefire Negotiation Mediator, Saying Neither Israel Nor Hamas Is "Sincere”
A Qatari official stated on Nov. 9 that the country had informed both parties about 10 days earlier that it would pause its mediation efforts if progress was not made during the latest negotiation round.
Qatar has suspended its role as a mediator in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas until both sides show “willingness and seriousness” to end the war.
The decision comes as Israel’s genocide in Gaza continued for over a year, with months of unsuccessful attempts to broker a lasting agreement.
A Qatari official stated on Nov. 9 that the country had informed both parties about 10 days earlier that it would pause its mediation efforts if progress was not made during the latest negotiation round.
The last significant breakthrough was in November 2023, when Qatar helped broker a temporary humanitarian pause that led to the exchange of about 300 captives.
Qatar has said it is willing to resume its mediation efforts if both sides demonstrate a genuine commitment to ending the war.
Under pressure from the US, Qatar is also closing Hamas’ political bureau in Doha as it “no longer serves its purpose” with the negotiations halted, according to CNN.
Qatar has been hosting the group’s political leaders since 2012 to facilitate longterm negotiations between the group and Israel.
On Tuesday Nov. 19, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed at a media briefing that the most senior Hamas leader outside Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, and other key figures in its negotiating team are no longer in Doha.
The spokesperson stressed that Hamas’ office in Doha was created for the sake of negotiations, adding that “Obviously, when there is no mediation process, the office itself doesn’t have any function.”
He asked the media not to speculate and that the Qatari government would announce if the office had closed down permanently.
Many fear that the Gaza negotiations have reached a deadlock, with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu being repeatedly accused of prioritizing his political survival over ending the war and achieving the release of the hostages and Hamas insisting on a permanent ceasefire before any other hostages are freed.
Isha Jain
Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
