Qatar recently informed both Hamas and Israel that it will temporarily halt its mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release deal until both parties demonstrate genuine commitment to negotiations, the Qatari foreign ministry announced. Qatar has been mediating along with the United States and Egypt, but limited progress has been made. The suspension of Qatari efforts could hinder future talks.
 
Additionally, Qatar responded to media claims about potentially expelling Hamas from Doha, clarifying that reports on the issue were inaccurate, although it did not detail specifics. A U.S. official previously indicated that Washington had asked Qatar to remove Hamas officials, and that Qatar had passed this message on to the group. Despite this, three Hamas officials claimed they were not informed of any changes in their status in Qatar. The political presence of Hamas in Qatar, which began in 2012 through a deal with the U.S., has historically supported peace discussions.
 
The latest attempt at a truce in October failed, with disagreements on ceasefire terms and the future of Hamas in Gaza. Washington has recently pressed Qatar to reconsider Hamas’s presence following their rejection of a recent proposal, though Qatar has not set any deadlines for closure of Hamas’s Doha office.