After almost a month of negotiations, Israel has decided to recall its negotiators to Tel Aviv after reaching a dead end in talks with Qatar. A source affiliated with the delegation that had been sent to Doha said that the main stumbling blocks included the economic and political ties between Qatar and the Gaza Strip which Israel wanted to see weakened.
The negotiations initially began in February when Israel and Qatar agreed to launch a series of meetings to address several issues, including how Qatar could help ease the economic and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meetings, which took place in Doha, focused on the Israeli demand that Qatar reduce its support for political movements in the Gaza strip, which the country accuses of undermining Israeli security.
This move was a significant shift in policy for Qatar, which has long sought to maintain close ties with both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, two groups Israel regards as hostile to its interests. At the same time, Qatar was reportedly eager to ensure economic stability in Gaza as well as to create a more favorable diplomatic climate with Israel, hoping that this could eventually lead to greater cooperation between them.
The talks stalled, however, when Israel refused to budge on its demand for a significant reduction in Qatar’s support for Hamas and other movement in the Gaza Strip. According to reports, the delegation felt that if the country refused to accept the Israeli demand, then the talks were effectively dead and there was no reason for them to continue.
With the talks deadlocked, Israelis officials have expressed a desire to keep diplomatic ties open with Qatar, hoping that the situation can be resolved in the future. That said, a dramatic breakthrough seems unlikely, at least for the time being. This promising dialogue will have to start from scratch if it ever has a chance for success.
