Qatar, one of the chief negotiators of a potential cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, said it will suspend its mediation efforts, according to officials.
The move comes amid growing frustration over the lack of progress in the yearlong war in Gaza and fear around widening conflict in the region, The Associated Press reported. Though, the outlet added, it is unclear whether remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar will be required to leave.
If both Israel and Hamas show “serious political willingness” to reach a deal, Qatar could return to the negotiating table, according to an official from Egypt — another mediator alongside the U.S. — per the AP.
Qatar explained to both sides of the aisle that it cannot continue negotiating if both sides refuse to seek a deal “in good faith,” the official said.
“As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose” in Qatar, another diplomatic source familiar with the matter said, according to the news wire. The outlet added that the Hamas officials said they were aware of the withdrawal of Qatar, but not that they had to leave.
A U.S. official said the Biden administration had been in talks with Qatar about the Hamas office in Doha since the militant group rejected the last proposal for a cease-fire, informing them that the office was no longer useful. The official, AP reported, said the Hamas delegation was informed of the decision 10 days ago.
The news comes just weeks after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war — was killed in a strike on Gaza late last month. It was unclear when, or if, cease-fire negotiations would continue after his death.
Previous talks fell apart as some officials blamed Sinwar’s stonewalling, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also faced criticism for moving the goal posts on keeping his military forces in control of key territory in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has also called for the return of more than 100 hostages still in Gaza before agreeing to a deal. More than 250 people were taken captive by the militant group at the onset of the war.
More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict — many of them women and children — according to local health officials, but that number does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
