Gaza ceasefire talks hit stumbling block, mediator Qatar says

Qatar is reconsidering its role as a mediator in negotiations aimed at bringing about a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages.

Prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said some parties had used ongoing talks in Doha for “narrow political interest”.

At a joint news conference with Turkey’s foreign minister, he added that while his government remains committed to mediation on a “humanitarian basis”, there has been “abuse and harm” done.

The Qataris earlier warned truce discussions had stalled.

Sheikh Mohammed admitted they were at a “delicate phase”, adding: “We are trying as much as possible to address this stumbling block.”

He explained negotiators are trying to “move forward and put an end to the suffering that the people in Gaza are experiencing and return the hostages”.

Tensions in the region have increased since Hamas’s murderous October 7 assault on Israel killed 1,200 people and 250 others were kidnapped.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza that followed caused widespread devastation and led to 33,800 deaths, according to local health officials.

Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend in response to an apparent strike on their embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed 12 people, including two generals.

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi warned that the “tiniest invasion” by the Israelis would bring “massive and harsh” penalties.

Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar has “warned from the beginning of this war against the expansion of the circle of conflict, and today we see conflicts on different fronts”.

He added: “We constantly call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and stop this war.”