Qatar is reassessing its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas after suffering criticism, its Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said on Wednesday. He mentioned that Qatar had been the victim of “point-scoring” by politicians and is in the process of re-evaluating its role due to the abuse and exploitation.
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been engaged in talks to secure a truce in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, negotiations had stalled, according to Sheikh Mohammed earlier on Wednesday.
The Qatari government has faced criticism from Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for its mediation efforts with Hamas. Despite this, Qatar has rebuffed calls to exert pressure on Hamas.
Fears of the conflict in Gaza spilling over into a regional conflict have grown after Iran’s direct attack on Israel. Qatar has been warning against the expansion of the conflict and is urging the international community to stop the war, stating that Gaza faces siege and starvation.
The war in Gaza began with an attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,170 deaths. In retaliation, Israel’s military offensive has killed around 33,899 people in Gaza, with dozens of hostages still being held. Israel estimates that 129 hostages remain in Gaza, including 34 who are presumed to be dead.
