"After nearly two years of walking a diplomatic tightrope, Qatar was caught in the crossfire of the very conflict it was attempting to mediate. An Israeli airstrike on Doha on Tuesday targeting members of Hamas's political office upended months of talks to end the conflict in Gaza and could complicate Qatar's role in helping to negotiate a ceasefire between the two sides."
"As a mediator, Qatar hosted dozens of rounds of ceasefire talks, facilitated hostage and prisoner swaps, and supported humanitarian aid deliveries. In recent weeks, Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams had reported progress toward a ceasefire for a hostage release deal backed by the Trump administration. But the delicate diplomacy - often carried out in the background - also opened the tiny, wealthy Persian Gulf nation up to fierce criticism."
"Repeatedly, when ceasefire talks would stall or break down, Qatar would come under fire for not exerting enough pressure on Hamas. Last year, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for Qatar to expel the Hamas office, a move some at the time warned would make negotiations with the group even more difficult. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told reporters Tuesday that Qatar would continue its efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas."
Qatar hosted multiple rounds of ceasefire talks, facilitated hostage and prisoner swaps, and supported humanitarian aid deliveries aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. An Israeli airstrike on Doha targeted members of Hamas's political office and upended months of negotiations toward a hostage-release ceasefire deal. The strike risks complicating Qatar's role as mediator and has dimmed short-term prospects for negotiations. Qatar's prime minister affirmed a commitment to continue mediation as part of national identity but acknowledged that current talks may no longer be viable after the attack. Critics previously faulted Qatar for insufficient pressure on Hamas after stalled talks, including calls to expel the Hamas office.
Read at The Washington Post
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