Qatar Suspends Gaza Mediation, Citing Lack of Seriousness in Talks

AFP/APP

Doha: Qatar has suspended its role as a key mediator in negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, citing a lack of “seriousness” from both Hamas and Israel in their discussions, according to a statement from the Qatari foreign ministry on Saturday.

The Gulf nation, which has hosted Hamas’s political leadership since 2012 with US approval, had been involved in extensive diplomacy aimed at ending the ongoing conflict following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

Despite months of efforts, talks mediated by Qatar, Cairo, and Washington have repeatedly faced obstacles, and only a brief one-week truce in November 2023 has been achieved so far. Both sides have blamed each other for the lack of progress.

Qatar informed both parties that it would pause its mediation efforts unless an agreement was reached in recent talks.

“Qatar will resume efforts when the parties demonstrate a willingness and seriousness to engage,” said Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for the foreign ministry. A diplomatic source further confirmed that the suspension was due to a refusal by both sides to negotiate in good faith.

Israeli Strikes on Lebanon Kill At Least 33 People

Beirut: Israeli air strikes across eastern and southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 33 people, the Lebanese health ministry reported, as Israel intensified its military actions against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia.

The strikes targeted the Baalbek-Hermel region in eastern Lebanon, killing 20 people, including 11 in the Knaissseh locality, an area controlled by Hezbollah. Another 14 people were reported injured in these attacks.

In southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah also maintains a strong presence, at least 13 people were killed, including seven rescue workers linked to Hezbollah and its Shiite ally, Amal.

The Lebanese ministry also reported a number of casualties in the southern city of Tyre, where seven people, including two children, were killed and 46 others were injured in Israeli strikes. Rescuers continued searching for survivors beneath the rubble.

The escalation of violence comes after months of low-intensity, cross-border attacks by Hezbollah in support of Hamas, which launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Since the start of the air campaign in late September, over 3,110 people have been killed in Lebanon, with at least 2,700 deaths occurring since the end of September.