Qatar reassessing role as mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks
Qatar’s prime minister has said the country is reassessing its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar has been trying to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages.
But Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said Doha had been exploited and abused and was being undermined by those trying to score political points.
He also said the current peace talks were in a “delicate phase”.
Attempts to secure a ceasefire have been largely unsuccessful but the links Qatar has with all sides – including ties to Hamas – are crucial in achieving any breakthrough.
Mediators have proposed a six-week truce during which Hamas would free 40 women, children and elderly or sick hostages – an offer Hamas has rejected.
Qatar is now openly questioning the chances of those talks succeeding and says it is re-evaluating its role as a mediator.
Sheikh Mohammed – who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister – said its efforts were being undermined by politicians seeking to score points.
“Unfortunately, I mean, we have seen that there has been an abuse of this mediation and an abuse of this mediation in favour of narrow political interests,” he said at a news conference in Doha on Wednesday.
“This means that the state of Qatar has called for a comprehensive evaluation of this role. We are now at this stage to evaluate mediation and also evaluate how the parties engage in this mediation.”