 "Qatar denounces Netanyahu for pressuring Hamas to release hostages")
As a new attempt to drag out the Gaza war, conflict mediator Qatar on Monday denounced remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he asked the Gulf state to put pressure on Hamas to free Israeli hostages.
The pattern of recent negotiations for a framework ceasefire agreement for the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was described as “not very promising” by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani over the weekend.
“The Israeli Prime Minister’s recent statements in which he calls on Qatar to pressure Hamas into releasing the (Israeli) hostages are nothing but a new attempt by him to delay and prolong the war for reasons that have become clear to everyone,” Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari posted in a statement on social media platform X.
It was unclear what comments from Netanyahu the Qatari statement was referring to.
Sheik Mohammed, who is also foreign minister, said on Saturday he could not give details of talks but as with past deals there were two elements: humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the number of Palestinians to be released for Israeli hostages.
With inputs from Reuters
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
