Qatar Pushes Hamas for Peace Talks Participation

Qatar is working to persuade Hamas to join the peace talks scheduled for Thursday, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to a U.S. State Department official. So far, Hamas has refused to participate in the ceasefire discussions, which are taking place amid rising concerns that tensions between Israel and Iran could escalate further following the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli operation.

During a briefing on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel mentioned that Qatar has committed to trying to ensure Hamas’s involvement in the talks. While Patel did not provide details about the specific demands from either side, he emphasized that U.S. efforts are concentrated on reducing violence and addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Patel highlighted the continuous U.S. diplomatic efforts, stating, “We are working tirelessly every day to advance these peace talks. It’s important for everyone in the region to recognize that further attacks only fuel more conflict, instability, and insecurity.”

He also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting Israel, especially in the face of any potential retaliatory actions from Iran following Haniyeh’s death, saying, “We will not hesitate to defend Israel and our personnel from attacks, whether from Iran or its allied proxies.”