Qatar has stepped down as the main mediator for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and warned Hamas that its Doha office “will no longer serve its purpose”, a diplomatic source told AFP on Saturday.
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, have been engaged in fruitless negotiations for months for a ceasefire over the release of hostages and prisoners.
“The Qataris informed both Israel and Hamas that they cannot continue mediation as long as there is a refusal to negotiate an agreement in good faith,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“As a result, Hamas’ political office is no longer fulfilling its purpose,” the source said.
The informed source said Qatar had already informed “both sides, Israel and Hamas as well as the US administration” about its decision.
“The Qataris told the US administration that they would be willing to re-engage in mediation when both sides … demonstrate a sincere desire to return to the negotiating table,” the source said.
Qatar, which is home to a major US military base, has hosted Hamas’ political leadership since 2012 with Washington’s blessing.
During talks following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 last year, both Qatari and US officials had indicated that the terrorist group would remain in Doha as long as its presence provides a viable channel of communication.
Qatar said in April it was reevaluating its role as a mediator in the conflict as it faced criticism, particularly from Israeli and US politicians.
At the time, the Qataris delivered a similar message on the situation at 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 United States and Israel, because talks while they were in Türkiye were “ineffective”, the source said.
Apart from a week-long pause in the fighting late last year, during which several hostages held by Hamas were released, successive rounds of talks have failed to stop the war.
Washington and Doha last month announced renewed in-person talks to explore new options, seeking to break the impasse ahead of the end of US President Joe Biden’s term and this week’s US elections.
But the latest initiative did not yield any success.
The diplomatic source said Qatar “has concluded that there is not enough will on both sides, that mediation efforts have become more about politics and elections rather than a serious effort to ensure peace”.
“Qatar advised the US administration and both parties that it will not accept being the victim of political exploitation aimed at gaining political advantage at Qatar’s expense while misleading public perception,” the source said.
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