IRIA News

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Qatar announced that it has suspended its mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that it will only resume its diplomatic role if both sides demonstrate a “genuine commitment” to negotiations.

The announcement came as the conflict as the conflict surpasses 400 days. For months, Qatar, alongside Egypt and the U.S., has engaged in intense diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the violence and brokering a sustainable ceasefire.

A brief one-week truce in November 2023, during which several hostages held by Hamas were released, marked a fleeting success in the diplomatic efforts. However, the negotiations have faltered since then, with each side blaming the other for the continued impasse.

According to Majed al Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, Qatar had notified both parties a week ago that it would suspend its mediation if no progress was made in the latest round of talks.

“Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago, during the last attempts to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round,” Ansari said, adding, “Qatar would resume those efforts … when the parties show their willingness and seriousness.”

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs @majedalansari : Qatar's efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel are currently stalled #MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/pvHFKuxqA2

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) November 9, 2024

Diplomatic sources with knowledge of the mediation efforts further elaborated on Qatar’s stance, stating, “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.” The sources indicated that without a firm commitment from both sides, further mediation efforts would be futile.

One of the major sticking points in the failed attempts at negotiations has been Hamas’ insistence on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a condition that Israeli officials have categorically rejected.

Meanwhile, as negotiations stall, the fighting on the ground continues to escalate. According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed at least 14 Palestinians, including nine people in a tent camp in Khan Younis.

In northern Gaza, Israeli forces have sustained a concentrated air and ground campaign in Jabalia, a region marked by intense combat operations over the past month. On Friday, Israel’s army chief, Herzi Halevi, visited the region, affirming that operations would continue as part of efforts “to bring back the hostages, to ensure security” for Israeli border communities, according to a statement from the Israeli military.

400 days of war

The conflict, which began in October 2022 following a Hamas incursion that resulted in over 1,200 Israeli fatalities, has since claimed over 43,000 lives in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The rising toll and deteriorating humanitarian situation have added urgency to calls for a negotiated solution.

Humanitarian agencies have sounded alarms over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza. In a U.N.-backed assessment released Saturday, the Famine Review Committee warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza due to an abrupt halt in food aid and increased hostilities.

“Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future,” the Committee cautioned, indicating that the ongoing violence has placed thousands of lives at immediate risk.

Among Israelis, frustration is mounting, particularly among the families of hostages still held in Gaza. Of the 251 hostages seized during the October incursion, 97 remain in captivity, including 34 whom the Israeli military has confirmed are deceased. Every weekend, protesters gather in Tel Aviv to urge their government to prioritize the hostages’ release.

Qatar’s role in mediation

Qatar has been playing a critical intermediary role for over a decade between Israel and Palestinian groups. Since 2012, Qatar has hosted Hamas’ political leadership with tacit U.S. approval, acting as a conduit for dialogue with the Palestinian group and contributing significantly to past negotiations aimed at stabilizing Gaza. However, these efforts have faced increasing setbacks in recent months.

As both sides remain entrenched in their positions, the future of Qatar’s mediation role remains uncertain. The international community continues to watch closely, with hopes that renewed efforts might pave the way for peace amid an escalating humanitarian crisis that shows no signs of abating.