Gulf state upset: Netanyahu calls Qatar “problematic”

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Audio recordings of the meeting were leaked to an Israeli TV station. Netanyahu described the Gulf state’s role in negotiations with the Islamist Hamas over the release of further hostages as “problematic”.

A spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry wrote on the X platform, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday evening that they were “shocked” by Netanyahu’s alleged statements. They were “irresponsible and destructive of efforts to save innocent lives, but not surprising,” Qatar’s representative said. He accused Netanyahu of undermining the negotiation process “for reasons that appear to serve his political career, instead of giving top priority to saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages.”

Netanyahu reportedly said Qatar was “fundamentally no different” from the United Nations and the Red Cross, “and in some ways even more problematic.” Israel accuses the two international organizations of unfairly denouncing Israel and instead siding with the Palestinians. Netanyahu also expressed anger that the US has expanded its presence at a military base near Doha.

Qatar is considered one of the main backers of Hamas, which wants to destroy the state of Israel and on October 7 carried out horrific massacres in Israel and kidnapped more than 250 people. It also serves as a “safe haven” for Hamas leaders.

Recently, however, the Gulf state played a decisive role in the mediation between Israel and Hamas. Together with Egypt and the US, negotiators reached a one-week ceasefire at the end of November last year. During this period, Hamas released a total of 105 hostages in several steps. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from its prisons.

According to Israeli information, of the more than 130 hostages, only just over 100 were still alive. The hostages included two children, 18 women and a 13-year-old.

(SDA)

Source: Blick