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SvennoJ 4 days ago
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Qatar reportedly suspends mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel

Several news agencies, citing an unnamed diplomatic source, are reporting that Qatar has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel.

A diplomatic source briefed on the matter was quoted as saying that Israel and Hamas, along with the US, were informed after the decision was made. The source added that “as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose” in Qatar.

However, Qatar is highly likely to return to the efforts if both sides show “serious political willingness” to reach a deal on the war in Gaza, according to one official with Egypt, the other key mediator.

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatar’s decision to suspend mediation efforts “but no one told us to leave”.

The Associated Press, quoting an unnamed diplomatic source, is reporting that Qatar told Israel and Hamas it could not continue to mediate “as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith”.

Qatar told Hamas it will have to leave if it isn’t ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source said.


Qatar will resume mediation effort once all sides show ‘willingness, seriousness’

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has rejected media reports that it has pulled out of mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas but added that it has “stalled” its efforts until all parties show “willingness and seriousness” to end the war.

In a statement on X, the ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said that Qatar had informed the relevant parties 10 days ago of its intentions.

Al-Ansari also said that reports regarding the Hamas political office in Doha were inaccurate, “stating that the main goal of the of the office in Qatar is to be a channel of communication between the concerned parties”.



Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said that the country will not accept that its role as a mediator be used to “blackmail it”.

“Qatar will not accept that mediation be a reason for blackmailing it, as we have witnessed manipulation since the collapse of the first pause and the women and children exchange deal, especially in retreating from obligations agreed upon through mediation, and exploiting the continuation of negotiations to justify the continuation of the war to serve narrow political purposes,” he said in a statement posted on X.



Iran rejects claims it came up with plot to kill Donald Trump

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied US charges that Tehran was linked to an alleged plot to kill Donald Trump.

On Friday, the US charged an Iranian man in connection with an alleged plot it said was ordered by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps to assassinate Trump, according to the Department of Justice.

Araghchi said the claim was a “repulsive” plot by Israel and Iranian opposition outside the country to “complicate matters between America and Iran”.

In a post on X, Araghchi called for confidence building between the two countries.

“Iran is NOT after nuclear weapons, period. This is a policy based on Islamic teachings and our security calculations. Confidence-building is needed from both sides. It is not a one-way street,” he said.