Israel-Palestine War: Qatar Says It Is Committed To Continue Mediation (Photo on X تميم بن حمد @TamimBinHamad)
Qatar today (Wednesday) announced its commitment to continue its mediation efforts in the current Israel-Hamas war to reach an immediate end to the war in Gaza and to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians. Qatar’s status has been improved as a negotiator after it managed the previous mediation efforts effectively, helping in freeing both Palestinian prisoners and the Israeli hostages.
As there are 150 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, Israel might be in need for another negotiation, with the domestic pressure from the relatives of the captives is also mounting, especially in the absence of any improvements in Israel’s ground operation in Gaza. Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has so far failed to find the hostages. However, Qatar”s Permanent Representative to the UN Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani announced its willingness to negotiate with its partners to help the parties reach a permanent solution and to stop the continued bloodshed in Gaza.
Sheikha Alya Ahmed also called on the Security Council to fulfil its responsibilities by implementing its resolutions. She pointed out Qatar’s commitment and efforts to bring sustainable peace and security, saying that Qatar has invested in preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention. Qatar’s UN representative further noted the importance of coordination in the UN system, including the political will of the UN members to achieve the peacemaking objectives to the ongoing war.
However, last year, Qatar’s commitment to peacebuilding activities was met with opposition, with the Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin saying that Qatar supports terrorism. While Qatar hosts some of Hamas’s leaders and the largest military base in the country, it is analysed that Qatar can play an important role in the peacebuilding talk. According to the report, more than 100 captives have been released so far from Hamas. Further negotiation with the parties involved in the war could possibly alleviate the conflict and save the desperate Palestinians.
