Qatar ends mediation efforts in Gaza, citing diminished role of Hamas office

Qatar is reportedly withdrawing its mediation role in the Gaza conflict, as a diplomatic source indicated that Qatari officials believe the Hamas office “no longer serves its purpose.”

The decision to step back from Gaza mediation comes after months of stalled negotiations. Qatar has been a key intermediary in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

Mediation on hold until Israel, Hamas show ‘seriousness’

Qatar denied media reports on Saturday claiming it had withdrawn from efforts to mediate a cease-fire in Gaza.

Qatar’s mediation for a Gaza truce and hostage release is on hold until Israel and Hamas show “willingness and seriousness” in talks, the Gulf state’s foreign ministry said on Saturday.

“Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago, during the last attempts to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round,” ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said in a statement, adding that “Qatar would resume those efforts… when the parties show their willingness and seriousness”.

‘Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose’

“As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose.” the source added.

Qatar, with the United Sates and Egypt, has been engaged in months of fruitless negotiations for a truce with hostage and prisoner releases.

The informed source said Qatar had already “notified both sides, Israel and Hamas as well as the US administration” of its decision.

“The Qataris conveyed to the U.S. administration that they would be ready to re-engage in mediation when both sides… demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table”, the source added.

Insufficient willingness

Qatar, which is home to a major U.S. military base, has hosted Hamas’s political leadership since 2012 with Washington’s blessing.

During the talks after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel last year, both Qatari and US officials indicated that the militant group would remain in Doha as long as its presence offered a viable channel of communication.

Qatar said in April that it was reassessing its role as a mediator in the conflict as it was facing criticism, notably from Israeli and U.S. politicians.

At that time, the Qataris gave a similar message over the status of the Hamas office, prompting Hamas officials to leave for Türkiye, the diplomatic source said.

But they returned after two weeks at the request of the U.S. and Israel, as negotiations were “ineffective” while they were in Türkiye, the source said.

Apart from a one-week pause in the fighting late last year, during which scores of Hamas-held hostages were released, successive rounds of negotiations have failed to halt the war.

To break the deadlock near the end of U.S. President Biden’s term and in the run-up to this week’s US elections, Washington and Doha last month announced fresh in-person talks to explore new options.

But the latest initiative produced no breakthrough.

The diplomatic source said Qatar had “concluded that there is insufficient willingness from either side, with the mediation efforts becoming more about politics and elections rather than a serious attempt to secure peace”.

Qatar “advised the U.S. administration and both parties that it would not accept being subjected to political exploitation aimed at gaining political leverage at Qatar’s expense while misleading public perception”, the source added.