Doha: Qatar will withdraw mediation efforts to prevent a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip “until Hamas and Israel demonstrate a serious intention to return to the negotiating table,” Reuters news agency quoted an official as saying.
The official added that Qatar had also concluded that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Politburo in Doha was “no longer serving its purpose.”
“Qatar has said from the beginning of the conflict that it can mediate only when both sides show a genuine interest in finding a solution,” the official said, adding that “Qatar has notified Hamas, Israel and the U.S. administration of its decision.”
In contrast, Agence France-Presse quoted a Hamas leader as confirming that the movement had not been asked to leave Qatar and close its Doha office.
Since the offensive on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, Qatar has led mediation efforts along with Egypt and the United States. After a temporary ceasefire agreement was reached between Hamas and Israel in November 2023 that saw prisoners and prisoners exchanged, other interventions also sought to end the war that has claimed more than 40,000 Palestinian martyrs and caused widespread destruction and unprecedented humanitarian slaughter. No agreement was reached. Disaster.
