Now, Qatar stands at an important inflection point in its diplomatic endeavors. Recent Israeli airstrikes aggravate the nation, fatal sky attacks deepen feeling of betrayal. The Gulf state has historically been viewed as a key U.S. partner in the region. Now, it’s welcoming these same delegations to participate in indirect negotiations with Hamas about how the fighting should continue. This comes against the backdrop of continued tensions and controversy over a new U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage agreement.
On the diplomatic front, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, met with Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ chief negotiator. Their discussions aimed to forge a path toward peace, reflecting Qatar’s longstanding role as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas. After the latest wave of Israeli strikes, the chances of Qatar mediating seem improbably low, making Qatar’s role in this mediation unclear.
The Israeli airstrikes on Hamas came just days after Qatar played host to U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders. Such a timing – criticized of being an affront to Qatari’s Arab neighbors. Only months earlier, in May, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE had promised $3 Trillion in agreements on the same trip! America’s unspoken security assurances bolster these accords. With the Iraq strikes against Qatar, we have seen serious questions raised regarding the U.S. assurances’ reliability.
In June, Qatar came out looking like the loser on America’s behalf when Iran retaliated against a Trump administration escalation by attacking the Al Udeid military base. The incident underscored Qatar’s precarious position in regional geopolitics and its balancing act between supporting U.S. interests while maintaining relations with groups like Hamas. Sheikh Mohammed criticized the most recent violence, labelling it “state terror.” His brusque choice of words certainly indicates the depths of his brutal passions regarding the war on Gaza’s future.
Indeed, Qatar has delivered important prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. Its attempts to act as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict appear to be going that way. Immediately after the strikes, Sheikh Mohammed stated that they had “killed any hope” of a peaceful solution in the meantime. In Qatar’s capital, Doha, many residents are dealing with a sense of profound betrayal. This sense is in stark contrast to the city’s previous mystique of being resistant to such attacks.
Given all of this, analysts argue there is reason for optimism that countries within the region might change their tune. HA Hellyer remarked, “I think those nations will be wondering what they can do in order to deter future attacks.” Our Arab allies are growing more anxious by the hour. In fact, they have previously viewed Qatar as a stabilizing force during negotiations.
Sheikh Mohammed has a rocky road ahead. Still, he is unflappable as he seeks to cut through the fog of confusion surrounding the 23-month war in Gaza. After the strikes were carried out, reports suggest that President Trump was “very unhappy” with Israel’s efforts to punish Qatar. This house unrest will only make already tenuous diplomacy harder while poisoning future negotiations.
