Qatar, Egypt, and the US are playing important roles in mediating between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza.
Following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Qatar and Egypt have raised concerns about the future of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani voiced his frustrations about the challenges of mediating when one party resorts to political assassinations.
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Israel for escalating tensions which impede efforts to broker peace in Gaza. Despite ongoing talks involving Qatar, Egypt, and the US, a final agreement to end the conflict remains elusive.
‘Gaza ceasefire essential’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of a Gaza ceasefire to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. He highlighted the urgent need to reach a ceasefire to stabilize the situation.
While Israeli officials have not directly commented on the assassination of Haniyeh, they have expressed a commitment to continuing ceasefire negotiations. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stressed the importance of working towards a deal to release captives during a call with US counterpart Lloyd Austin.