Israel-Hamas conflict: Is Qatar responsible for collapse of peace-talk

Express News Service

August 24, 2014

Exiled Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal. 

Qatar threatened to expel exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaa if Hamas accepted an Egyptian peace proposal.

As the tension between Israel and Hamas entered its 48th day and casualties from both the sides crossed 2,200, (Israel has lost 68), the UN and the entire world is concerned with continuous collapse of peace talks between Israel and Hamas.

Some quarters are blaming Qatar for stopping Hamas from reaching lasting ceasefire in the Gaza strip.

Here is why Qatar is under a shadow of doubt:

1. Qatar has been home to Hamas chief-in-exile Khaled Mashaal since 2012 and considers itself a key financial patron for Gaza.

The targeting of large buildings appears to be part of a new military tactic by Israel. 

2. That support is prompting accusations that Qatar helped scuttle a lasting truce in the month long Gaza war.

Over the weekend, the army began warning Gaza residents that it will target buildings harboring “terrorist infrastructure”. 

3. A Palestinian official, on condition of anonymity, said the experience indicated the Qataris “have no interest” in seeing Egyptian-led talks succeed.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

4. The London-based pan-Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat separately quoted a senior Fatah official saying Qatar threatened to expel Mashaal if Hamas accepted an Egyptian peace proposal.

Palestinians inspect the rubble from the Al-Zafer apartment tower following Israeli airstrikes on Saturday that collapsed the 12-story building, in Gaza City. (Source:AP)

5. The paper also quoted him saying that Hamas demanded that Egypt grant Qatar a role in resolving the Gaza crisis, but Cairo rejected the idea.

Palestinian Hamas supporter shout slogans to protest against Israel. (Source:AP)

6. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Qatar in March.

Palestinian relatives weep during the funeral of Ibrahim Hamad, an Islamic Jihad militant, at his family house. 

7. The three Arabian counties said Qatar failed to uphold its end of a security agreement to stop meddling in other nations’ politics and backing groups threatening regional stability.