According to a report by The Times Of Israel, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has expressed disappointment over what he described as a violation of the Gaza ceasefire, following an attack on Israeli soldiers that killed one of them. Speaking during an on-stage interview at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, the Qatari leader called the incident “very disappointing and frustrating for us.”
“What happened yesterday was a violation,” Al-Thani said, confirming that the mediators overseeing the ceasefire—Qatar, Egypt, and the United States—had anticipated an Israeli military response to the attack. He noted, however, that both Israel and Hamas later signaled their willingness to maintain the fragile truce despite the renewed violence.
Al-Thani, whose country has played a key mediating role in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, described the situation as a serious setback for ongoing diplomatic efforts. “We were hoping that both parties would stick to the agreement and refrain from any actions that could undermine it,” he said.
When pressed by the interviewer to specify who was responsible for the breach, Al-Thani responded clearly: “What happened yesterday — the attack on the Israeli soldiers — that’s basically a violation by the Palestinian party.”
He also addressed Hamas’s denial of involvement in the attack, saying, “Hamas has put a statement that those they are not in communication with this group [that carried out the attack]. We don’t know yet [if that’s true].”
The Qatari prime minister emphasised the importance of accountability and restraint from both sides to prevent further escalation. He reiterated that Qatar remains committed to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at maintaining the ceasefire and reducing civilian suffering in Gaza.
Al-Thani’s comments come amid growing international concern over the durability of the truce, which has been repeatedly tested since it was brokered earlier this month. His remarks underline Qatar’s frustration as a key mediator trying to keep the ceasefire intact while navigating mounting distrust between Israel and Hamas.