Qatar Withdraws from Moderating Negotiations Between Israel and Hamas

Doha, the capital city of Qatar, contains an office for Hamas leadership (Flickr)

Qatar announced in a statement on November 9 that it will withdraw from its position as mediator between Hamas and Israel, and will only resume its role when both sides show “willingness and seriousness” to put an end to their war. The Arab country has notified both Hamas and Israel that it intends to cease its involvement in negotiations if they cannot reach an agreement after their last round of talks. Qatar helped to negotiate a temporary ceasefire and release of hostages between Hamas and Israel after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Qatar provides Hamas an office in Doha and has hosted Hamas leaders since 2012 at the United States’ behest. The United States has asked Qatar to expel Hamas from the country several times throughout the war, and, in April 2024, Qatar temporarily closed the Hamas office in Doha, resulting in many Hamas officials leaving for Turkey. This inhibited negotiations, resulting in both the United States and Israel requesting that Qatar bring these officials back.

Recently, a U.S. senior administration official once again stated Hamas “should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner” due to them “rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages.” At the time this article was written, Qatar had not yet asked Hamas officials to leave the country, stating that they will not succumb to pressure from the United States or other countries in any actions they take. However, according to a U.S. diplomat, Qatar has notified Hamas that, if negotiations continue to be unsuccessful, the Hamas office in Qatar will no longer serve its purpose. Qatar is a major U.S. ally in the region.

Qatar has served as a mediator in the Middle East for over two decades, gaining the state a reputation as a neutral power, and it continues to strive for open channels of communication between Israel and Hamas. In addition, Qatar’s Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed support for the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of Palestine as an “independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” 

However, as peace talks continue to be unsuccessful, there is growing skepticism as to whether negotiating parties are truly attempting to achieve a ceasefire or instead postpone a resolution until they achieve their goals. Qatar insists that it is following both its strategic policy and its humanitarian duty as a mediator in an attempt to bring an end to the conflict as soon as possible, but it is unlikely to see a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict under the parameters of Palestine becoming an independent state any time soon.