The Gulf state stressed that “distortion and political pressure will not deter Qatar from standing with oppressed peoples”.
Qatar has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “inflammatory” criticism of its mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, and condemned his attempts to justify the ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.
“Qatar firmly rejects the inflammatory statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which fall far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility,” Majed Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, said on X.
Netanyahu’s office issued the statement on Sunday evening, where he accused Qatar of “playing both sides with its double talk” in yet another attempt to undermine its crucial mediation role.
“The time has come for Qatar to stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it’s on the side of civilisation or if it’s on the side of Hamas barbarism. Israel will win this just war with just means,” the statement said.
Al-Ansari responded by saying that Netanyahu’s portrayal of the war as a defence of “civilisation” echoed “the rhetoric of regimes throughout history that have used false narratives to justify crimes against innocent civilians”.
“The Palestinian people in Gaza are enduring one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of modern times marked by a suffocating blockade, systematic starvation, denial of medicine and shelter, and the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of political coercion,” Al-Ansari said.
“Is this truly the model of ‘civilisation’ being promoted?” he questioned.
Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, have mediated between Hamas and Israel since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023 in an effort to reach a ceasefire and a captives release deal.
The mediators first reached a week-long truce that lasted between November 24 and December 1, 2023, resulting in the release of 109 captives.
Qatar later brokered a three-phase ceasefire deal that took effect on January 19, leading to the release of 33 Israeli captives and five Thai nationals.
Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18 demanding that Hamas hands over the remaining captives
“A legitimate question must be raised: Were the releases of no fewer than 138 hostages achieved through so called ‘just’ military operations, or through the very mediation that is now being unjustly criticised and undermined?” Al-Ansari asked.
Qatar has been on the receiving end of criticism by Israeli officials and some U.S. politicians since taking on its mediation role between Hamas and Israel.
Most of the criticism has focused on Qatar’s hosting of the Hamas political office, established in 2012 at Washington’s request to maintain a channel of communication with the Palestinian movement.
In January 2024, Netanyahu described Qatar’s mediation role as “problematic” in leaked audio recordings by Israeli media. Netanyahu then said he stood by his remarks.
Al-Ansari, in his response over Netanyahu’s latest comments, stressed that “Qatar’s principled foreign policy is not at odds with its role as a credible and impartial mediator”.
“Campaigns of distortion and political pressure will not deter Qatar from standing with oppressed peoples, defending the rights of civilians regardless of background and upholding international law without selectivity or exception,” he added.
Since the beginning of the genocide, Israel has killed more than 61,700 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to a revised figure by the local health ministry. However, the figure is believed to be significantly higher with thousands trapped under the rubble and now presumed to be dead.
Israel’s complete blockade on the Gaza Strip and refusal to enable the entry of aid has also caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation, where starvation has reached alarming levels.
