DOHA: Qatar, acting as a mediator in truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas on Tuesday said that Israel’s military operation in Rafah has set truce negotiations with the Palestinian group “backward”, adding that talks have reached “almost a stalemate”.
Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told the Qatar Economic Forum that the momentum previously observed in negotiations has now regressed significantly, attributing the setback primarily to Israel’s recent military operation in Rafah.
“Especially in the past few weeks, we have seen some momentum building but unfortunately things didn’t move in the right direction and right now we are on a status of almost a stalemate,” stated Prime Minister Al-Thani. “Of course, what happened with Rafah has set us backward.”
Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, has been engaged in extensive behind-the-scenes mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas. However, the fresh escalation of violence in Rafah has complicated these efforts, with discussions now reaching a near impasse. “The events in Rafah have significantly hindered our progress,” Prime Minister Al-Thani emphasized.
“There is no clarity on how to stop the war from the Israeli side. I don’t think that they are considering this as an option… even when we are talking about the deal and leading to a potential ceasefire,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The lack of clarity from the Israeli side regarding halting the conflict is concerning. It seems they are not considering it as an option, even as we discuss potential ceasefire agreements,” remarked Prime Minister Al-Thani. “There is no clarity on what Gaza will look like after this.”
According to reports, Israel’s military operation in Rafah continued unabated on Monday, despite warnings from the United States cautioning against a full-scale assault on the densely populated southern Gaza city, which is currently sheltering a large number of displaced Palestinians.
Speaking at a separate news conference, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza exacerbated by the recent hostilities. He noted that humanitarian aid has been unable to reach the people of Gaza since May 9, following Israel’s incursions into Rafah and the subsequent closure of main aid crossings.
“Our brothers in the Gaza Strip have not received any aid since May 9, and this is an indication of the continued perpetuation of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip,” al-Ansari stated.
Despite efforts by mediators to broker a ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian assistance, the situation on the ground remains dire, with no clear path forward for resolving the conflict. Israeli politicians have signaled their intention to persist with military actions. “Our brothers in the Gaza Strip have not received any aid since May 9, and this is an indication of the continued perpetuation of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip,” Majed al-Ansari said.
