Qatar says it suspended mediator efforts for Gaza ceasefire due to lack of good-faith negotiations

Qatar announced Saturday that it has paused its role as a mediator for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas due to a lack of willingness by the sides to reach an agreement.

Qatar announced Saturday that it has paused its role as a mediator for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas due to a lack of willingness by the sides to reach an agreement. “The State of Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round,” Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said in a statement Saturday. The statement detailed Qatar’s withdrawal from mediation efforts, which the country had been a central part of for more than a year. After months of stop-and-go negotiations, efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal – a top priority for President Joe Biden – remain stalled. Officials in Doha have also decided to close Hamas’ political office in the Qatari capital, a diplomat familiar with the decision told CNN. ⁠Doha decided “about a week ago to suspend the office because the parties aren’t negotiating in good faith,” the diplomat said. “⁠The office won’t be operational so (Hamas) may leave. The office could open again if talks restart.” US and Qatari sources told CNN on Friday that Qatar made the decision to kick out Hamas after a request from the US to do so. The diplomatic source said ⁠the decision to close the office was made independently, not due to US pressure.