Qatar eyes peace in Gaza amid new diplomatic momentum

Doha is working to revive negotiations for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, capitalizing on the momentum created by the recent truce between Israel and Iran. 

This was confirmed Friday by Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and adviser to the Prime Minister.

Qatar, a key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, sees the current moment as a rare “window of opportunity.”
“If we don’t seize this momentum, it will be yet another missed opportunity in a long line of them,” al-Ansari warned in comments to the press.

U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying a Gaza ceasefire could be finalized “as early as next week.” His statement aligns with renewed mediation efforts underway in Washington, Cairo, and Doha.

While there is currently no direct negotiation between Israel and Hamas, al-Ansari emphasized that Qatar remains “actively engaged in separate talks with each side.”

A two-month truce brokered in January, shortly after Trump took office, led to the release of dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, that fragile peace collapsed in March as hostilities escalated once again in Gaza.

Qatar is relying on Washington to apply pressure and bring the parties back to the negotiating table. “We have seen what American pressure can achieve,” said al-Ansari, referring to the earlier ceasefire.

The regional dynamic has shifted significantly following the Israel-Iran truce announced by Trump, which ended twelve days of warfare. The ceasefire came after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, followed by an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Path to Peace Still Unclear

According to al-Ansari, Qatar chose to de-escalate after that attack, partly in response to a phone call from President Trump to the Emir of Qatar urging restraint and promising that “Israel has accepted a ceasefire.”

The road to peace in Gaza, however, remains complex. 

As international mediators step up their efforts, many analysts argue that any lasting solution must involve the disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups, and the eventual administration of Gaza by an independent and neutral authority.