Qatar ready to resume mediation for Gaza cease-fire

Qatar announced on Tuesday its readiness to resume mediation efforts to reach a Gaza cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel, conditional upon genuine commitment from the involved parties.

Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, stated that negotiations were suspended “due to the lack of seriousness from the parties” but emphasized that Qatar is prepared to step back in if both sides demonstrate seriousness.

“Doha will not accept being exploited for political purposes,” he added.

Qatar’s firm stance remains centered on securing a cease-fire and facilitating aid access to Gaza, which has been devastated by continued military operations. Al-Ansari also clarified that Hamas negotiators were not currently in Doha and were moving between various capitals.

Despite earlier mediation efforts by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, a cease-fire deal and prisoner swap remain elusive. U.S. officials, however, speculate that Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Oct. 18 might present a new opening for negotiations.

The conflict continues to exact a heavy toll, with nearly 44,000 people killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to Hamas figures, while the territory suffers from dire shortages of food, water, and medicine amid a prolonged blockade. Meanwhile, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its military actions in Gaza.