by Khaled Abu Toameh • September 2, 2025
- It
was Qatar, in fact, during the entire Trump administration's supposed
"mediation," that repeatedly instructed Hamas to keep attacking
Israel and not to disarm.
- Even
after joining the Arab League's request for a ceasefire, Qatari government
journalists are urging Hamas to kidnap more Israeli soldiers, to
"[f]ight the Jews and kill them," and that "Jihad victory
in Gaza will end Zionism." After the January 2025 ceasefire came into
effect, Qatar's government media called the ceasefire a "crushing
historic victory" for Hamas, a "significant defeat" for
Israel, and like the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, "which the Prophet Muhammad
signed with his enemies in the Quraysh tribe" for ten years, but
"which he violated after approximately two years," and proceeded
to conquer Mecca.
- If
22 Arab and Muslim countries do not have the courage to speak out against
Hamas, how can they be expected to play any role in ending the war in the
Gaza Strip?
- Qatar
has so far failed to pressure the terror group [Hamas] to lay down its
weapons and relinquish control over the Gaza Strip. Qatar's government
journalists, as noted, are still actively encouraging Hamas to continue
the war.
- If
the two countries [Egypt and Qatar] really wanted to pressure Hamas, they
would at least threaten to deport the terror group's leaders and their
families and seize their bank accounts. Not only has this not happened,
but Hamas leaders continue to lead comfortable lives in Doha and are
warmly received each time they fly to Egypt.
- Hamas
leaders simply feel no pressure whatsoever from the Arabs to end the war
in the Gaza Strip. That is most likely why Hamas leaders are determined to
fight to the last Palestinian. From their safe homes and offices in Qatar
and Turkey, Hamas leaders continue to glorify the Palestinian
"resistance" and threaten Israel with more terrorism.
- The
fastest way to end the war is by demanding -- with consequences for
dawdling -- that the Arab countries, especially Egypt and Qatar, take a
truly tough stance against Hamas. The Trump administration is probably the
only party that can pressure Egypt and Qatar to force Hamas to release the
hostages and lay down its weapons.
