Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is continuing his battle with Qatar to free hostages from Gaza, insisting the Gulf emirate uses its influence as a sponsor and financier of Hamas militants.
“Qatar hosts Hamas leaders. It also finances Hamas. He has influence in Hamas,” Netanyahu told a televised press conference. “So they should be good enough to apply their pressure. They set themselves up as mediators – so please, let them be good enough to bring back our hostages.
I never got a word back about Qatar
Asked about his closed-door comments — a recording of which was leaked to Israeli television this week — in which he considered the gas-rich emirate a “problem” aside from thanking Qatar for mediation, the Israeli prime minister told reporters. : “I didn't get a word back.”
Last year, Qatar responded through a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
There was no immediate response from Qatar to Netanyahu's comments. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha, through the emirate's representative, not only supported Qatar's role, but also stood by the country's role in the negotiations. “We are surprised by the comments attributed to the Israeli Prime Minister in various media reports regarding Qatar's mediating role. These ideas, if verified, are irresponsible and destructive to efforts to save innocent lives, but not surprisingly.”
Qatar and Egypt have open channels with Israel and Hamas and brokered a truce in November. Efforts to reach an agreement for the return of at least some of the 132 remaining hostages appear to be bearing fruit, while protests in Israel are mounting demanding the government do more.
