Qatari PM says Rafah offensive sent peace talks “backward”
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told the Qatar Economic Forum on May 14th that Israel’s recently-bolstered Rafah offensive has set truce negotiations with Hamas “backward” and reaching “almost a stalemate,” Arab News and agencies reported.
“Especially in the past few weeks, we have seen some momentum building but unfortunately things didn’t move in the right direction and right now [the] status [is] almost a stalemate,” he added. “What happened with Rafah has set us backward.”
In an overnight attack on May 7th, Israel seized Gaza’s Rafah Crossing border shared with Egypt in an unprecedented attack amidst ceasefire negotiations. Now, forces have flooded into the territory from both the north and south enclaves.
RafaQatar has hosted Hamas’s political office in Doha since 2012, and has mediated negotiations between Israel and the militant group — along with Egypt and the United States — for months.
READ: Israel and Hamas play blame game over peace talk stalemate
Hamas initially accepted a ceasefire deal on May 6th, but then backed out of its agreement following Israel’s heightened Rafah offensive. The group made it clear from the beginning that cooperation on their end would require the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israel has persisted despite various warnings from different global powers — including its long-standing ally of the United States, who recently paused a sizable military delivery. US President Joe Biden has repeatedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that continued US support hinged on improved humanitarian conditions in the region.
“There is no clarity [on] how to stop the war from the Israeli side,” said Al-Thani. “I don’t think that they are considering this as an option […] even when we are talking about the deal and leading to a potential ceasefire.”
He said Israeli politicians indicated “by their statements that they will remain there” and “will continue the war.” “There is no clarity on what Gaza will look like after this,” he added.
Arab News and agencies
