Netanyahu Accuses Hamas Leaders in Qatar of Hindering Gaza Ceasefire Efforts

Netanyahu's Strong Warning to Hamas Leaders

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas leaders residing in Qatar, accusing them of obstructing ceasefire negotiations and extending the conflict in Gaza.

In a post shared on X, Netanyahu claimed that the Hamas politburo in Doha was prolonging the war and hindering the release of hostages. He stated, "The Hamas terrorist leaders in Qatar are indifferent to the plight of the people in Gaza. They have blocked all attempts at a ceasefire to prolong the conflict. Removing them would eliminate the primary barrier to freeing our hostages and concluding the war."

Criticism of Qatar's Role

Netanyahu's remarks come amid ongoing Israeli criticism of Qatar for providing a base for Hamas's senior leadership, including Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau, and other prominent figures. Israel accuses these leaders of orchestrating the conflict while enjoying safety abroad.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu drew parallels between Israel's actions against Hamas leaders in Qatar and the U.S. response following the September 11 attacks. He emphasized that Israel would pursue Hamas leaders "wherever they may be" unless Qatar took action against them.

Qatar's Response

In response to Netanyahu's comments, Qatar labeled his statements as "reckless" and defended its hosting of Hamas leaders as part of internationally supported mediation efforts involving the U.S. and Israel.

The Qatari foreign ministry issued a statement asserting that the presence of the Hamas office was part of mediation efforts requested by the U.S. and Israel, conducted transparently with international oversight.

They further criticized Netanyahu's insinuations, describing them as a desperate attempt to rationalize actions condemned globally.

Recent Developments

Reports indicate that an Israeli airstrike in Doha earlier this week targeted a meeting of Hamas's senior leadership, who were reportedly discussing a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal and hostage release.