Qatar has expressed its commitment to continue behind-the-scenes negotiations efforts toward securing the release of at least 200 hostages believed to be held by Hamas after such talks were credited with freeing two U.S. nationals detained by the Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip.
“Two American civilian hostages have been released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid al-Ansari said in a statement shared with Newsweek. “Today’s breakthrough comes after many days of continuous communication between all the parties involved.”
“We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas,” the statement added, “and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace.”
Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
The small, oil-rich monarchy located off the Arabian Peninsula has extensive experience in conducting high-stakes diplomacy in the region, having recently helped to facilitate a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap last month despite heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
But the scope of the current crisis playing out amid the deadliest flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades proves a major challenge even for Qatar and its record of achieving unlikely successes.
Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 surprise attack marked the deadliest-ever Palestinian attack on Israel, where officials have counted 1,400 dead. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has since launched a historic bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip, where local authorities say the death toll has surpassed 4,000.
As the IDF prepares for a likely ground incursion into the Palestinian territory, a number of nations have called for a de-escalation of violence, with little sign of success. As such, the release of two U.S. nationals marked a rare breakthrough.
In a statement, Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed the development, crediting Qatar directly.
“In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless,” Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida said.
A separate Hamas statement also noted how “this development was made possible through a collaborative relationship with the friendly state of Qatar,” while also noting mediation efforts taking place with Egypt and other unspecified nations.
“It is crucial to underscore our dedication to a collaborative approach with a diverse array of mediators,” the statement said. “This commitment remains resolute as we endeavor to enact our decision to release individuals of foreign nationalities under temporary custody, as and when security circumstances permit.”
The IDF took a more skeptical stance.
“Hamas presents itself to the world as having returned the women they took hostage on humanitarian grounds,” IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, “while Hamas is in fact a murderous terrorist organization that right now is holding infants, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to commit crimes against humanity.”
Qatar has long been active in humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. The country also hosts a political office of Hamas in the capital Doha, from which the Palestinian movement has engaged in international diplomacy.
While, like most Arab nations, Qatar has no diplomatic relations with Israel, it has helped to secure a number of agreements between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Late last month, Qatar managed to secure an agreement to reopen Gaza Strip crossing points to Israel in a bid to alleviate tensions that would ultimately erupt just over a week later.
Just days before the current war broke out, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, told Newsweek that his country had no plans to establish diplomatic ties with Israel unless there was a substantive change in its policies toward Palestinians.
“Some countries may choose to normalize relations with Israel, but for Qatar, we do not see this as a realistic way to resolve the underlying conflict,” Al Khulaifi said at the time. “Any solution must be agreed by the Palestinians and Israelis and based on the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.”
“Without a change in Israeli behavior and a clear peace process,” he added, “normalization will not support a lasting peace between Palestine and Israel.”
This is a developing news story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.