Earlier this month, Qatar announced an end to its role as mediator between Israel and Hamas in efforts to achieve a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal. Reports indicated that U.S. pressure on Qatar to deliver results or banish Hamas from Doha prompted
the announcement.
Almost immediately thereafter, Qatar clarified that its withdrawal from the mediator role was “reversable,” if the parties demonstrate a willingness to reengage. Qatar also denied multiple news reports that it ordered the closing of the Hamas office in Doha or the expulsion of Hamas representatives from Doha, or that any of its actions were taken in response to a request or directive from the Biden administration.
That’s not the story U.S. officials were telling. Indeed, a day before the Qatari “clarification,” Biden administration officials confirmed that Qatar told Hamas leadership that they are no longer welcome in their country.
As explained by a Biden administration official, “Hamas is a terrorist group that has killed Americans and continues to hold Americans hostage. After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas’ rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal.”
And yet, Qatar continues efforts to burn a flaming Middle East diplomatic candle at both ends. On the one hand, Qatar wants to appear responsive to the urgings of Washington and be viewed as an indispensable middleman in dealing with otherwise unreachable Middle East terror groups. On the other hand, Qatar is doing everything it can to maintain its Muslim Brotherhood credentials and its standing as one of the foremost supporters of the terror community.
Although the whole idea of working through Qatar in connection with the Hamas conflict was problematic to many, it had some initial appeal. When the Gaza war erupted, Qatar had one of the very few open lines of communication with Hamas leadership. But it didn’t take long for the futility of that effort to become apparent, even if it took the diplomatic community several extra months to figure things out.
Qatar is and has long been a patron of terror. Its relationship with Hamas stems from its sponsorship of the terror organization and sympathy with its goals. Qatar has even welcomed Hamas leadership to live in Doha.
There is therefore good reason to wonder whether Qatar has ever been an honest broker in the negotiations for the hostages’ release or the cease-fire process, even if it may have achieved some initial success. What has followed since then has been a waste of time
and resources.
We urge the Biden administration to make clear to Qatar that the U.S. will no longer tolerate obfuscation and misdirection. It should give Qatar a date by which it must deliver results from Hamas or suffer clearly articulated consequences.
With proper pressure on the Qataris, the Biden administration should be able to deliver the results it has been trying to achieve in Gaza for more than a year. Otherwise, it can leave the matter for more aggressive action by the Trump administration.
