Linkto article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-pull-out-gaza-ceasefire-mediation-source-says-2024-11-09/
On Saturday November 9, 2024 Qatar told the Palestinian group Hamas and the state of Israel that it will be halting its cease fire and hostage release negotiations in Gaza until they are able to show “willingness and seriousness” to resume their talks. Although Reuters had quoted a U.S. official saying Washington had asked Qatar to expel the group and that Doha (where Hamas’s political office is held) had passed the message along, it is unclear as to which state wanted to stall negotiations. Qatar in partnership with the United States and Egypt had been helping to mediate peace from this war for months. In fact, Qatar has been hosing Isreali political leaders since 2012 as part of a deal with the US. Qatar also stated that Hamas’ political office there “no longer serves its purpose.” However, speaking of the record, three Hamas leaders said they were not informed that their leader’s presences was unwelcomed in the country of Qatar, even though 10 days ago Qatar had warned them that they would stall peace agreements between Isreal and Hamas if the entities were unable to reach an agreement by the end of their latest round. Since Hamas had rejected their latest short term cease fire proposal from October, a US official stated on Friday that, “Hams’s presence in Doha was no longer acceptable.” This same event happened once before back in April, and Hamas’ presence was allowed back within two weeks, so its is foggy as to how long the stalling of negotiations will continue. Many are worried that disengagement from this peace process will further complicate efforts to reach a deal.
Qatar has come to be known as a major non-NATO allies in D.C. They have sought a role as a link between Western powers and their enemies in the middle east for a long time. Not only does Doha contain the largest US airbase within the middle East, but they also helped to negotiate a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran this past year. This can be related back to class with our talk of the fluidity of alliances. Right now the US has a need for an alliance with Qatar (with one of our national interests being the need to be the wolrd’s police), and Qatar has the need for an alliance with the US; due to bandwaggoning where smaller-not as powerful-states aly with powerful states to protect themselves. The Middle East is not the safest place on the planet so having the “hegemon” of the world on your side is not a bad thing to do. We can see both countries act in ways to keep the alliance going for now, but once peace agreements have been reached who knows how much longer the alliance would last, since the US would no longer have a need to be in it.