In a recent diplomatic endeavor, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, met Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the leader of Qatar, on a swiftly scheduled visit to Doha. The meeting aimed at urging Qatar to maintain its role as a peace broker in the ongoing Gaza discussions. This came on the back of Israeli airstrikes on Hamas leaders in the emirate a week earlier. Despite being presented with a challenging backdrop for negotiations, with Israel commencing a ground offensive into Gaza City, Rubio still sought Qatari intervention due to the nation’s distinctive influence in the region.
Rubio conveyed his aspiration to the media stating, ‘We greatly value Qatar’s sustained efforts towards a constructive resolution. We hope they will persist with their endeavours, even in the aftermath of the recent occurrences. We firmly believe that if any country can further negotiations to conclude this situation, it’s Qatar.’ This diplomatic convergence occurred amidst tension following an Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, where participants denounced Israel for its military actions. The retaliatory initiatives by Israel had created diplomatic strain between the Gulf Arab countries and the United States.
On the global stage, the Israel-led strike on Doha was met with severe criticism. Volker Turk, the United Nations rights chief, on Tuesday, expressed his condemnation of Israel’s actions, labeling it an ‘alarming violation of international norms, an affront to regional peace and security, and an undermining of the very essence of mediation and global negotiation processes.’
On Monday in Doha, the leader of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council insisted that the U.S. utilize its influence and leverage to contain Israel’s assertive military action. Rubio assured that the United States would cooperate with Qatar in developing a defense agreement, notwithstanding the recent Israeli military intervention.
While addressing the media next to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that Israel would not conduct further strikes in Qatar. On the other hand, Rubio did not lavish praises on Qatar, emphasizing instead on progressive steps to recover from the aftermath of the strike.
Qatar has played a pivotal role in diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing Gaza war, which has spanned almost two years. Their involvement became even more critical when the Israeli attack took place as the Hamas leadership convened to contemplate a new ceasefire proposal from the United States.
Qatar hosts the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East and serves as the operational base for Central Command, a key strategic U.S. Military command for the region. Despite being a small gas-rich nation, its status as a significant non-NATO ally by Washington indicates its pivotal geopolitical position.
The close ties between the U.S. and Israel have remained unflinching, even in the face of global disapproval over Israel’s aggressive military strategy in the Gaza war. The assault began with an attack launched by Hamas in October 2023, which Israel responded to swiftly.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his administration completely accountable for the Doha attack, viewing it as a necessary step to curb terrorism. Before the attack on October 7, reports suggest that both Israel and the United States had subtly encouraged Qatar’s involvement.
The situation escalated as Israel resumed heavy bombing on Gaza City on Tuesday. Early accounts from the Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, emphasize that Gaza City, the primary urban center in the territory, was ‘engulfed in flames’. He pledged unwavering commitment to their mission, stating, ‘We shall press forward undeterred until the mission objectives are achieved.’
Eyewitness reports depicted a grim picture of ceaseless aerial assaults on Gaza City, much of which was already reduced to ruins due to repeated attacks since the initial Hamas assault in October 2023. Amidst these circumstances, Rubio expressed strong support for the offensive during his meeting with Netanyahu, who urged the Israeli military to seize control of Gaza City.
While referencing the new military operations, Rubio informed reporters, ‘We believe a small window of opportunity exists for a negotiation-driven resolution’. Though Rubio remained optimistic about a diplomatic result involving the demilitarization of Hamas, he acknowledged that achieving this with ‘an unruly outfit like Hamas’ might be a formidable task while expressing hopes for a positive outcome.
Seeking to further diplomatic intervention, Rubio proceeded to Qatar. He reiterated, ‘We hope that if any country can aid in ending this crisis through negotiation, Qatar is best positioned.’ However, President Donald Trump clarified that the Israeli Prime Minister would not be targeting Qatar further.
Unlike the United States, the European powers unsuccessfully pleaded with Israel to halt its campaign in Gaza, citing the increasing humanitarian crisis in the region. The initial Hamas attack in October resulted in over 1,200 casualties, the majority being civilians. The subsequent Israeli campaign in Gaza led to the deaths of more than 64,900 people, again, predominantly civilians.
Of the persons kidnapped by Palestinian militants in the wake of the October 2023 assault, 47 individuals continue to remain in Gaza, including 25 whom the Israeli military has declared deceased.
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