RAFAH: Qatar said it was appalled Wednesday by leaked remarks made by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in which he criticised the country’s mediation efforts with Hamas, complicating already arduous negotiations meant to halt the hostilities in exchange for a hostage release.
In a meeting with families of hostages held by Hamas, Netanyahu said Qatar’s role in the mediation was “problematic”. Qatar, a key mediator that also has deep ties to the militant group and hosts some of its exiled leaders, said Netanyahu’s remarks were “irresponsible and destructive”. The public spat came as talks were under way in an effort to advance a potential agreement that might offer some respite in the 3-month-old war.
In Netanyahu’s leaked remarks, which were broadcast Tuesday on Israeli Channel 12 television, he also told the families that he has intentionally not thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts, claiming it could put more pressure on the Islamic militant group.
“Qatar in my opinion is no different, in essence, from the UN. It is no different, in essence, from the Red Cross, and in some ways it is even more problematic,” he said. Israel views those organisations with suspicion, seeing them as biased against it. Netanyahu also said in the leaked audio that he had expressed anger at the US for renewing a military base in the Gulf state. He said he told the US to put pressure on Qatar to put pressure on Hamas.
In a post on X, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said his government was “appalled” by the reported remarks by Netanyahu. “If the reported remarks are found to be true, the Israeli PM would only be obstructing and undermining the mediation process, for reasons that appear to serve his political career instead of prioritising saving innocent lives,” al-Ansari said.
In a meeting with families of hostages held by Hamas, Netanyahu said Qatar’s role in the mediation was “problematic”. Qatar, a key mediator that also has deep ties to the militant group and hosts some of its exiled leaders, said Netanyahu’s remarks were “irresponsible and destructive”. The public spat came as talks were under way in an effort to advance a potential agreement that might offer some respite in the 3-month-old war.
In Netanyahu’s leaked remarks, which were broadcast Tuesday on Israeli Channel 12 television, he also told the families that he has intentionally not thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts, claiming it could put more pressure on the Islamic militant group.
“Qatar in my opinion is no different, in essence, from the UN. It is no different, in essence, from the Red Cross, and in some ways it is even more problematic,” he said. Israel views those organisations with suspicion, seeing them as biased against it. Netanyahu also said in the leaked audio that he had expressed anger at the US for renewing a military base in the Gulf state. He said he told the US to put pressure on Qatar to put pressure on Hamas.
In a post on X, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said his government was “appalled” by the reported remarks by Netanyahu. “If the reported remarks are found to be true, the Israeli PM would only be obstructing and undermining the mediation process, for reasons that appear to serve his political career instead of prioritising saving innocent lives,” al-Ansari said.