Eurasia Press & News
Qatar signaled on Wednesday that it may reconsider its role as a key mediator in the Gaza conflict after an Israeli strike on its soil killed members of Hamas’ negotiating team, sparking widespread international condemnation.
For months, Qatar and Egypt have been central to US-supported efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, seeking a formula that would see hostages and prisoners exchanged. But according to Qatari officials, while Hamas showed flexibility and agreed to a draft proposal vetted by Washington, Israel stalled, shifted conditions, and ultimately walked away from talks.
Speaking to CNN, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of wasting mediators’ time and steering the Middle East into deeper instability. He warned that the repercussions of Israel’s actions now extended across the Gulf region. The premier added that in light of the attack, Doha was reassessing both its mediation efforts and Hamas’ continued presence in Qatar.
The strike, which killed at least five Hamas negotiators, triggered outrage across the globe. Even Israel’s closest ally, the United States, appeared uneasy. President Donald Trump distanced himself from the operation, saying he had not been informed in advance and was “not thrilled” by the escalation.
He emphasized that the decision was Netanyahu’s alone, not his administration’s, while underscoring Qatar’s importance as a longstanding partner and host of a major US airbase. Trump said he had spoken to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and assured him that such an incident “will not happen again on their soil.”
Israel, however, defended its actions. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that Hamas leaders would be pursued “anywhere in the world,” while Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, told Fox News that if Tuesday’s strike failed to eliminate Hamas targets, “we will succeed next time.”
