Qatar says 'Israel' blocking ceasefire deal despite Hamas agreement
3 Min Read
Qatar reaffirms commitment to Gaza ceasefire mediation, saying that Hamas has agreed to terms while "Israel" refuses to respond.
-
Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that reached Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip, on August 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The Qatari Foreign Ministry affirmed on Tuesday that Doha remains fully committed to its mediation efforts until the end of the war on Gaza, reiterating its openness to all initiatives aimed at securing a ceasefire.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson emphasized that Qatar does not consider the location of negotiations to be an obstacle, stressing that both Doha and Cairo support any effective platform for advancing the peace process.
According to the spokesperson, the terms accepted by Hamas are identical to those previously accepted by "Israel," yet Tel Aviv has refused to issue a formal response. "The ball is now in the occupation’s court," the official said, adding that the current Israeli stance suggests an unwillingness to reach an agreement.
To date, "Israel" has neither formally accepted nor rejected the proposal, nor has it presented an alternative. Qatar urged the international community to pressure Tel Aviv into taking a clear position.
Escalation on the ground won’t yield results, Qatar warns
The Qatari official also warned that Israeli military escalation is intensifying across Gaza, but such tactics would not produce any meaningful outcome.
He stressed that Qatar is not treating reports from Israeli media as credible sources, stating that Doha is awaiting an official reply to the ceasefire proposal, not media speculation.
Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has chosen not to respond to the mediators’ proposal, despite Hamas’ acceptance. The report added that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has withdrawn his support for the same proposal and has reportedly lost trust in the mediation process altogether.
These developments cast further uncertainty over the future of ceasefire talks, even as Gaza remains under relentless bombardment and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
It is worth mentioning that US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that the ongoing war on Gaza will reach a "conclusive ending" within the next two to three weeks, despite signs that "Israel" is pressing ahead with a prolonged onslaught.
"I think within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have a pretty good, conclusive, conclusive ending," Trump told reporters from the Oval Office.
Trump did not provide evidence or intelligence to support his timeline. His comments come as Israeli forces are intensifying preparations for a ground offensive on Gaza City, even after Hamas agreed last week to a phased ceasefire proposal mediated by Arab states, a proposal that "Israel" has not accepted.
