Qatar raises its voice against Netanyahu, accusing him of “undermining talks”

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman issued an unusual message of condemnation against Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to a Channel 12 recording broadcast on Tuesday evening, in which the Israeli prime minister is heard criticizing the military agreement reached between Doha and Washington. “Shocked by statements allegedly attributed to the Israeli Prime Minister,” a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson wrote on X. “If these statements are true, they are irresponsible and detrimental to efforts to save innocent lives, but they are not surprising.”

Qatar’s foreign ministry added: “The prime minister’s statements only undermine negotiations and serve his political interests instead of prioritizing saving the lives of innocent people, including Israeli hostages.”

“Instead of affecting Qatar’s strategic relationship with the United States, we hope that Netanyahu will decide to act in good faith and focus on the release of the kidnappers,” the ministry concluded.

In recordings made public by an Israeli channel yesterday of a meeting held by the Prime Minister with the families of the abductees, we hear Benjamin Netanyahu launch an all-out attack against Qatar. “When I talk about the queue, you don’t hear me thanking him. Have you noticed?” He asked before continuing: “It is because, for me, Qatar is not different from the essence of the UN, it is not different in essence. The Red Cross and, in a certain sense, it is more problematic.”

While informing the relatives of the abductees of the ongoing efforts to free them, saying that pressure on Qatar was a very important part of it, the head of government added: “The recent renewal of the agreement with the United States. I am very angry about their military base in Qatar, and I He didn’t hide it from the Americans. I told them that to make sure that Qatar puts pressure on Hamas, it has to start by putting pressure on Qatar (a kind of agreement by not renewing it so easily).”

Because of its closeness to Hamas, Qatar is a key player in negotiations with the terrorist group. It was through him that a cease-fire was achieved that ended in late November, allowing the release of about 120 hostages.