Qatar PM warns assassination jeopardizes Gaza ceasefire efforts
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, was assassinated, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, has raised serious fears that this might jeopardize existing ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
“Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on other side?” Al Thani said on X on Wednesday in an effort to draw attention to the consequences of such acts.
Read More: Who was Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader assassinated in Iran?
To bring about peace, he underlined the necessity of sincere allies and a worldwide campaign against the disrespect for human life.
Moreover, Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, has been actively involved in mediating a ceasefire in Gaza. The region has seen intense violence, with Israeli forces killing over 39,000 Palestinians following an October attack by Hamas-led fighters that resulted in 1,200 Israeli casualties.
Despite ongoing hostage-ceasefire negotiations, efforts to finalize a truce have faced complications due to demands from Israel. The assassination of Haniyeh, who resided mainly in Qatar, occurred in Iran and has raised fears of further escalation in an already volatile region, exacerbated by the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
Furthermore, Qatar has condemned the killing in Tehran, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens the fragile mediation process.
