Qatar pulls back as key mediator in Gaza negotiations over lack of 'good faith' from Israel, Hamas

Qatar has pulled back as a key mediator for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations, AFP cited a diplomatic source as saying on Saturday (November 9).

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

AFP further quoted this person as saying that Qatar had already “notified both sides, Israel and Hamas as well as the US administration” of its decision.

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

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Earlier this week, on Monday (November 4), the US State Department said that Hamas had rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire and hostage release deal. The Palestinian group had stuck to its key demand for a permanent withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

That rejection led Israeli negotiators to warn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that unless he shows some flexibility, a deal will remain unattainable, according to a report by Times of Israel.

Now, Doha’s move to withdraw from the ceasefire negotiations marks the biggest setback in efforts to reach a ceasefire since Hamas triggered the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7 last year.

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Apart from this move, earlier in the day, Qatar also told Hamas leaders to leave the country as the gulf state faced pressure from Washington to facilitate a ceasefire deal.

Senior US officials said that Qatar’s warning to Hamas came after Washington said that the militant group’s rejection of a deal to release Israeli hostages meant its presence was no longer ‘viable’.

On the other hand, a senior Hamas official said that the group had received no indication from Qatar that it should leave the country, according to AFP.

With inputs from agencies