By Andrew Mills and Nidal al-Mughrabi
DOHA/CAIRO (Reuters) -Qatar will cease attempting to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage launch deal till Hamas and Israel are prepared to renew talks, an official briefed on the matter mentioned, whereas additionally casting doubt on the continued presence of Hamas’ political workplace in Doha.
The Gulf nation has been working alongside america and Egypt on months of so-far fruitless talks between the warring sides in Gaza and its withdrawal from that course of would additional complicate efforts to succeed in a deal.
Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as a part of a cope with america, and the militant Palestinian group’s presence there was seen to have facilitated the progress of talks.
The struggle erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7 2023, killing round 1,200 folks and seizing one other 253 as hostages. Israel’s navy marketing campaign has levelled a lot of Gaza and killed round 43,500 Palestinians.
Qatar instructed Hamas, Israel and the U.S. administration it will be prepared to renew its negotiating function if Hamas and Israel “demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiation table with the objective of putting an end to the war,” the official mentioned.
Doha has additionally concluded that Hamas’ political workplace in Doha “no longer serves its purpose”, the official added, in an additional blow to the group whose prime leaders have been assassinated by Israel.
There was no official response from Hamas or Israel.
Nonetheless, three Hamas officers mentioned the group had not been knowledgeable by Qatar that its leaders had been not welcome within the nation.
The most recent spherical of talks in mid-October failed to provide a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal. Israel has beforehand rejected some proposals for longer truces. Disagreements have centred on the long-term way forward for Hamas and Israel’s presence in Gaza.
HAMAS IN QATAR
Washington had instructed Qatar that Hamas’ presence in Doha was not acceptable within the weeks because the group rejected the October proposal, a U.S. official mentioned on Friday.
Qatar has not set a deadline for Hamas’ political workplace to shut or for Hamas leaders to go away Qatar and it was unclear if it may reverse its determination that the workplace is not serving its function.
Qatar’s authorities had earlier reconsidered Hamas’ presence within the nation in April, citing issues that its efforts had been being undermined by U.S. and Israeli politicians, which the official mentioned had prompted the group’s leaders to go away for Turkey.
“After two weeks, the Biden administration and the Israeli government asked Qatar to request their return,” the official mentioned, including that Washington has mentioned negotiations had been ineffective when the Hamas leaders had been in Turkey.
Qatar, designated as a serious non-NATO ally by Washington, has lengthy sought a job as a hyperlink between Western powers and their adversaries within the area.
The nation hosts the biggest U.S. airbase within the Center East but in addition permits Hamas and Afghanistan’s Taliban to function workplaces in Doha. It additionally helped negotiate a prisoner alternate between the U.S. and Iran final 12 months.
It’s unclear what number of Hamas officers stay in Doha, however they embrace a number of doable replacements for chief Yahya Sinwar, whom Israeli forces killed in Gaza final month. They embrace Sinwar’s deputy Khalil al-Hayya, who has led ceasefire negotiations for the group, and Khaled Meshaal, extensively seen as Hamas’ diplomatic face.
The group’s earlier chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran in July nearly actually by Israel, was additionally primarily based in Doha. His physique was flown to Qatar for burial in early August.
