Qatar expresses its anger over Netanyahu's leaked criticism

World

Qatar has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of damaging efforts to secure the release of hostages after a leaked recording appeared to catch the Israeli leader criticizing the country, which has been a key mediator in the talks.

Qatar, which allows Hamas' military wing to maintain a presence in Doha, has been deeply involved in negotiations between Israel and the militant group on a ceasefire and the release of about a hundred hostages still held in Gaza held, even though the two sides seem to want that. remain far apart on an agreement.

In a recording broadcast on Israeli television on Tuesday, a voice that appears to be Netanyahu's calls Qatar's role as a mediator “problematic” because of its relationship with Hamas and criticizes the United States for expanding its military presence in Qatar.

“If validated, these comments are irresponsible and destructive to efforts to save innocent lives, but are not surprising,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said in a statement. statement on social media on Wednesday.

He said that if the comments were confirmed, Mr Netanyahu would “obstruct and undermine the mediation process, for reasons that appear to serve his political career, rather than prioritizing saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages.”

Mr Netanyahu did not respond publicly to Qatar's comments.

Israel's prime minister said on Sunday he would not accept a permanent ceasefire deal that would leave Hamas in control of Gaza. He is under pressure from his government's right wing to take more aggressive military action in Gaza, even as a debate arises over the feasibility of both wiping out Hamas and negotiating the release of the hostages.

A weeklong ceasefire in November was part of an agreement that secured the release of more than 100 of the hostages kidnapped on October 7, when Hamas-led fighters overran Israeli towns and killed about 1,200 people, including many civilians. Almost immediately after the October 7 attack, Qatar joined the hostage negotiations, taking advantage of its friendly relationship with Hamas.