Israel-Gaza War: Can Qatar end it?

Qatar’s government said it was suspending efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, due to the reluctance of both sides to negotiate.

He also reportedly came under pressure from the United States to close the Hamas office in the country.

This small, wealthy state has carved out a role as a peacemaker in the Middle East, but it has struggled to broker a ceasefire in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar is a small Persian Gulf country with an area of ​​11,600 km2, but it exports huge quantities of natural gas and its per capita income is the sixth highest in the world.

The government has chosen the role of international peacemaker and, over the past two decades, has mediated several ceasefires and peace agreements between warring parties in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. .

He hosted negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a temporary ceasefire in November 2023, during which 105 Israeli hostages were exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

In 2020, Qatar mediated a peace deal between the Taliban and the United States to end the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan. The United States and its allies withdrew their forces and the Taliban took power in the country.

Qatar also mediated a prisoner exchange deal between the United States and Iran in 2023.

The same year, he mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine to secure the return of Ukrainian children who had been taken from Ukraine to Russia during the ongoing conflict.

In 2022, Qatar negotiated a ceasefire between the Chadian government and 40 opposition groups. In 2010, he oversaw a peace deal between the Sudanese government and armed groups in the western province of Darfur.

The government of Qatar has enshrined the country’s role as peacemaker in its constitution.

Article 7 states that “the foreign policy of the State is based on the principle of strengthening international peace and security through the promotion of the peaceful resolution of international disputes.”

Not only is Qatar a close ally of the United States, hosting thousands of troops at Al Udeid Air Base, but it has also allowed extremist groups such as the Taliban and Hamas to establish offices in the country.

This allows it to serve as a bridge between political actors who might not speak directly to each other, according to Dr HA Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based think tank.

“Qatar is well placed to reach out to groups such as the Taliban and Hamas because it has never been in conflict with them,” he explains. “And thanks to the American military presence, representatives of these groups feel safe in Doha. »

“They feel they can negotiate in complete safety, protected from assassination attempts. »

Sanam Vakil, of the UK-based international affairs think tank Chatham House, adds: “It’s part of the country’s image to be seen as a hands-on, problem-solving negotiator.” »

“Being a peace broker makes Qatar useful to the United States and allows it to anchor itself in the West. »

“It also makes the region around it safer and more stable. »

Qatar has a team of highly qualified diplomats to oversee the peace talks, says Ms. Vakil. However, she adds that they have not always been able to persuade the warring parties to conclude peace agreements or commit to permanent ceasefires.

“The Qataris were very good at overseeing the end of conflicts when the cycle of violence was over and both sides wanted peace,” she says. “But it is not possible to end conflicts otherwise.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said it was suspending mediation efforts for a peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

However, he rejected reports that he would close the Hamas office in Doha.

The Israeli government has attacked Qatar, saying it favors Hamas and maintains a terrorist group.

However, according to Dr. Hellyer, “the government of Qatar invited Hamas to move to Doha: “The government of Qatar invited Hamas leaders to move their office from Damascus to Doha after their break with the Syrian government in 2012. They did it in coordination with the United States and, probably, with Israel.”

He adds that Qatar helped Israel and Hamas reach ceasefires after previous conflicts, “but that was when both sides wanted to return to the status quo ante.” »

“This time it’s different,” adds Mr. Vakil. “The Israeli government wants to guarantee its security more than it wants peace. Continuing the war will help him achieve his goals. Hamas wants peace simply to survive.”

It has been speculated that Hamas could leave Qatar and move its offices to Türkiye or Iran.

But Mr. Hellyer maintains that Qatar is the safest place for its leaders, provided they can stay there.

“When Ismail Haniyeh left Doha and went to Iran, he was quickly eliminated by Israeli forces,” he explains.