Why does Qatar insist on playing a mediating role between Hamas and Israel?

Author: ابراهيم ابراش

This insistence by the State of Qatar on continuing discussions about negotiations and its commitment as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, even after Israel targeted the residence of Hamas leaders in Doha, does not stem from national or humanitarian motives or a desire to serve Palestine and stop the war. Nor is it a sovereign decision by Qatar; rather, it is part of a task assigned to Qatar in the region to serve American and Israeli interests.

Before delving into the negotiations, it is important to remember the following:

1- Hamad bin Jassim, the former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, stated about Qatar's role in supporting and financing opposition groups in Syria, Libya, and elsewhere during the chaos of the Arab Spring, including extremist Islamic groups like ISIS and Al-Nusra, and that everything was done at the request of Washington and under its supervision.

2- Qatar has been a facilitator of Palestinian division from the beginning and helped sustain Hamas's authority in the Gaza Strip for 17 years through projects and funds delivered in bags carried by Ambassador Al-Emadi to Hamas with knowledge and coordination with Israel, which Netanyahu himself acknowledged. The goal has been to maintain the division and weaken the Palestinian Liberation Organization, thus thwarting the two-state solution project.

3- The statements of Qatar's ambassador in Washington, who is also the Foreign Minister, that Qatar hosted Hamas leaders at the request of Washington.

Within this outlined role for Qatar in the American project for a new Middle East, Qatar, Al Jazeera, and its army of mercenaries comprising political and strategic analysts play their part. The role of mediator between Hamas and Israel is part of this role and its objectives:

1- To continue trying to keep Egypt or any other parties away from the negotiations and their intricacies, despite Egypt being the primary party concerned with all that relates to the Palestinian issue, especially the Gaza Strip, for geo-strategic, national, and historical reasons.

2- To assist Netanyahu in propagating lies about his objectives in the war, which are to recover the hostages and eliminate the military capabilities of Hamas, despite everyone now knowing that the remaining hostages are no longer important to Netanyahu and that most of Hamas's military capabilities have been destroyed. Therefore, the continued discussion about negotiations and prolonging them covers up the strategic goal of the war.

3- To create the illusion and mislead public opinion that Hamas is still present militarily and politically, and thus it might have a political role along with the Muslim Brotherhood in what is being organized in the region.