Qatar, a key US ally, has mediated Israel-Hamas conflicts since the war began in October 2023|@mo_rawd_ye|X
Qatar has suspended its role as mediator between Hamas and Israel, citing both sides’ lack of willingness to negotiate and make progress to end the war. The country previously brokered a brief ceasefire in November, leading to the release of 105 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners.
The mediation pause follows a lack of progress since late August, when Hamas executed six Israeli hostages.
Tensions escalated a few weeks back when Israeli forces killed senior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, after which Hamas rejected another hostage proposal.
Qatar, a key US ally, has mediated the conflict since October 2023. The Gulf country has Hamas’s communications office there.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza. Qatar shelving its mediator role highlights the continuing deadlock, with no progress toward a ceasefire or peace.