Qatar Restarts Gaza Mediation Efforts

Qatar has resumed its efforts to mediate a truce in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict after briefly pausing its role, according to a source familiar with the talks. Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, had previously engaged in months of unsuccessful negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages, following almost 14 months of fighting.

In November, Doha paused its mediation, stating it would only resume once Hamas and Israel demonstrated “willingness and seriousness.” The source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the talks, confirmed that Qatar has now resumed its mediation efforts, though no details were provided regarding recent discussions.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its deadliest attack on Israel, killing 1,208 people. In response, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have resulted in over 44,500 casualties, most of them civilians. During the initial attack, Hamas took 251 hostages, with 96 still held in Gaza, including 34 whom Israel claims are dead.

Earlier, Qatar helped broker a temporary pause in fighting that allowed for the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, subsequent negotiations have made little progress.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump recently warned of severe consequences if hostages are not released before he assumes office next month, affirming strong support for Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude for Trump’s statement.