Israeli Attacks Do Not SequentiZE Qatar's Mediation Role

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. (Wikimedia Commons/Official State Department/Chuck Kennedy)

JAKARTA - Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani confirmed on Tuesday that mediation efforts were part of Qatar's identity and nothing would hinder his role in that regard, hours after Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Doha.

Together with Egypt and the United States, Qatar is known to have played a mediator role in the indirect mediation between Hamas and Israel since the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023.

"Qatar has put everything he can and will do everything he can to stop the war in Gaza, but for the current negotiations, I don't think anything is valid at this time after what we saw from today's attack," PM al-Thani told a news conference.

He blamed Israel for sabotaging what he called an opportunity for peace, sharply criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he said practiced "state terrorism".

PM Netanyahu said the attack was "completely justified" and ordered him after an attack on Jerusalem and the disappearance of four Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

PM Al-Thani further said US officials first warned Qatar of an Israeli attack 10 minutes after it started, calling the attack "100 percent dangerous."

"Qatar has the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary steps to respond to it," he added, adding the legal team had been set up to deal with the Gulf state's response to the attack.