DOHA. Qatar announced it will pause its role as mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Hamas and Israel until both sides show a renewed “willingness and seriousness” to engage, as stated by the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Saturday. This suspension could pose further challenges in the complex efforts to broker a ceasefire, which Qatar has been facilitating alongside the United States and Egypt.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry’s statement followed weeks of unsuccessful negotiations and media speculation on Hamas’ political status in Doha. “Press reports on the future of the Hamas political office in Doha were inaccurate,” the Ministry clarified, addressing recent claims by U.S. officials that Qatar had been urged to expel Hamas leaders. According to Reuters, a U.S. official confirmed on Friday that Washington conveyed this message to Qatar, which in turn notified Hamas.
An official familiar with the matter noted that, with Qatar’s mediation efforts on hold, Hamas’ presence in Doha might “no longer serve its purpose.” Yet, three Hamas officials, speaking anonymously, reported no direct communication from Qatar about an expulsion.
Qatar has hosted Hamas’ political leaders since 2012 under an arrangement with the U.S. This presence has historically provided an avenue for peace negotiations, contributing to last year’s brief ceasefire and a limited hostage release.
The conflict escalated after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli communities, which led to an Israeli military response that has devastated much of Gaza. “Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached,” Qatar’s foreign ministry stated. “Qatar will resume those efforts with its partners when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war.”
No responses have been issued by Hamas or Israeli officials on Qatar’s latest statement.
Hamas Leadership in Doha
Recent reports indicate that the U.S. government, following Hamas’ rejection of a proposed short-term ceasefire in October, questioned the continued presence of Hamas officials in Qatar. However, Qatar has not provided a deadline for the closure of Hamas’ political office or for leaders to exit the country.
Washington has leveraged Qatar’s strategic diplomatic positioning. The Gulf state hosts the largest U.S. airbase in the region and has been pivotal in negotiations, including a U.S.-Iran prisoner exchange last year. Qatar has previously hosted political offices for other groups, such as Afghanistan’s Taliban, facilitating communication channels between Western nations and adversarial entities in the region.
Key Hamas officials in Doha reportedly include Khalil al-Hayya, deputy to Gaza-based leader Yahya Sinwar, and Khaled Meshaal, a prominent diplomatic figure within the organization. Former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, assassinated in Iran in July, was also based in Doha.
Qatar’s temporary withdrawal from mediation reflects the strained and complex dynamics surrounding Gaza and the broader regional conflicts. Whether this pause will encourage Hamas and Israel to reconsider the path toward peace remains uncertain.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
