Watan-The effectiveness of Qatar’s diplomacy and its success in numerous mediations have earned it international recognition, sparking discussions about this small country with significant capabilities and strategic resources that compete with major nations around the world. Recent efforts by Doha resulted in a prisoner exchange deal between the Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance, along with a temporary humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite the presence of larger countries in terms of geography, demographics, and economy in the region, many nations, along with the United Nations, have found no solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza other than through Qatari mediation. Qatar succeeded in restoring calm to the besieged sector after 48 days of the brutal Israeli war.
The Gulf state has consistently played a neutral role in various crises and wars, focusing on ending the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. Qatar has emphasized the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and self-defense. Therefore, Doha has been an active player in many events.
الدكتور @majedalansari المتحدث الرسمي لوزارة الخارجية، في الإحاطة الإعلامية: تعمل دولة قطر منذ اليوم الأول على تعزيز دور الوساطة القطرية في مايتعلق بالوصول إلى هدنة وثم إلى وقف دائم لإطلاق النار. #الخارجية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/H5QLNWLN6w
— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) November 28, 2023
The most prominent moment for Qatar, marking a pivotal point in its diplomatic history and establishing it as a strong and influential player on the international stage, was its defiance in 2017 against a three-year unjust blockade led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Through skilled diplomacy and an extensive network of relationships, Doha managed to thwart the blockade’s plan and stand firm against the ‘stab in the back’ from its neighbors. Qatar forced the blockading nations to reconsider their decision and engage in reconciliation with the small Gulf state, showcasing its strength and diplomatic prowess.
Mediation in Gaza
The Qatari mediation has succeeded in bringing about positive resolutions to numerous crises and issues over the past years. These mediations have not been confined to Arab affairs but have also extended to the African continent and conflicts in the Asian continent.
Thanks to Qatar’s significant diplomatic capabilities and strong relations with various parties, and given Qatar’s emphasis on the role of mediation, Doha recently managed to broker a temporary ceasefire between the Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance factions for four days. This ceasefire was later extended for an additional two days on Monday.
Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, affirmed that Qatar hopes the ceasefire agreement will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
The humanitarian ceasefire, initially set to end on Tuesday, November 28, at 07:00 AM Palestine time, involved the exchange of dozens of prisoners between the Israeli occupation and Hamas, as well as the delivery of relief supplies, including fuel, to the Gaza Strip.
New Qatari Diplomatic Success…
Despite all the difficulties, challenges, and attempts by some parties to hinder, Qatar has succeeded in achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Once again, it has demonstrated its role as a diplomatic player with an extraordinary positive impact on many regional and international issues, especially those concerning Muslims.
Qatar’s reliance on transparency in conveying information between various parties, coupled with the trust it has gained in this field over the past 20 years, has made disputing parties confident in Doha’s positions, sincerity, and integrity in safeguarding secrets and adeptly conveying information. This approach steers clear of sensational media coverage that could lead to the failure of negotiations and impede results.
Qatar’s efforts have been crowned with success in most of the mediations it has engaged in. It has earned the satisfaction and trust of all parties involved, becoming a go-to mediator for finding solutions to disputes or conflicts, whether armed or unarmed.
Qatar: A Small State with Giant Achievements
In recent years, Doha has transformed into one of the most significant players on both the international and regional stages, employing preventive diplomacy, mediation, and benevolent efforts as effective tools in resolving numerous international crises.
Qatar, a quasi-peninsula, has emerged as one of the world’s most important oil and gas producers. It gained independence from Britain in 1971 and is situated on the west coast of the Arabian Gulf.
Covering an area of about 100 km in width and extending 200 km along the Gulf, Qatar has a population of 2.5 million people and a total area of 11,473 square kilometers.
Qatar’s role is not limited to the Arab world; it has also extended to the continents of Africa and Asia. The country has mediated in crucial conflicts and issues, notably mediating among Lebanese factions in 2008 and brokering the Doha Agreement that resolved a political crisis lasting 18 months.
Qatar successfully played a complex role in mediating between the longstanding adversaries, the United States and Iran, to facilitate a prisoner exchange deal.
Moreover, the United States sought Qatari mediation to reach an agreement with the Taliban, aiming to end the American presence in Afghanistan.
Qatar’s mediation managed to reunite several Ukrainian children with their families in Ukraine on October 16, 2023. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this step marked ‘an important beginning toward reuniting the remaining children affected by the Russo-Ukrainian war with their families.
Qatar’s Significant Role
Qatar is actively seeking to support international efforts aimed at providing the necessary conditions for a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.
Doha has repeatedly called on all parties to ‘exercise restraint and resolve disputes through constructive dialogue and diplomatic means.’
Qatar’s involvement extends to other aspects of the crisis. During a joint summit in early September 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, that Russia is ready to work in partnership with Turkey and Qatar to develop the terms of the ‘Black Sea’ deal for exporting grains to African countries.
Qatar was among the first countries to provide assistance to Morocco following the earthquake that struck the country on September 8, 2023, and earlier to Turkey after the earthquake in February 2023.
Analysts and experts in various media outlets confirm that Qatar has successfully managed its relationships with conflicting major powers, achieving numerous successes in its mediations regionally and globally.
Qatar’s strategy in conflict resolution is based on several key elements, with effective mediation being one of them. The country works to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties, seeking comprehensive and sustainable solutions. Doha, leveraging its extensive diplomatic network, excels at attracting relevant parties and creating a conducive environment for reaching agreements.
The world’s trust in Qatari negotiators and reliance on their efforts to bring parties together have been further demonstrated in the current crisis, reaffirming that the size of a country is never the sole measure of its impact.