Qatar has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations with Hamas for personal political gain. The accusation follows leaked recordings in which Netanyahu allegedly described Qatar's mediation role as 'problematic'.
Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, expressed his government's 'appall' at the remarks, calling them 'irresponsible and destructive'. He warned that if the remarks are true, Netanyahu is undermining the mediation process to serve his political career rather than prioritising the release of Israeli hostages.
In the leaked recordings from a closed-door meeting with hostage families, Netanyahu reportedly said he had intentionally not thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts and compared the Gulf state unfavourably to the UN and Red Cross. He acknowledged Qatar's leverage but said he harboured no illusions about them.
Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, further inflamed tensions by accusing Qatar of backing terrorism and being responsible for the 7 October Hamas attack. Meanwhile, at least 20 people were killed and 150 wounded while waiting for aid distribution in Gaza City, with Hamas blaming Israel.
The mediation effort, involving Qatar, Egypt and the US, has stalled amid fierce fighting in Khan Younis. A proposed 30-day pause in fighting for hostage releases remains far from agreement. Doha had earlier secured a week-long truce in November that freed over 100 hostages.
