Watan-Reuters reported in a recent article that the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, has increased pressure on Qatar to release prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza.
The Prime Minister of the occupation stated that Doha should use its influence over the Palestinian resistance movement, considering it as a “host and funder,” according to his claim.
These unusually direct comments from Netanyahu came yesterday, Saturday, before what sources described to Reuters as an expected meeting today, Sunday, between Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the directors of intelligence agencies in Israel, the United States, and Egypt, to discuss a possible new agreement for the release of prisoners.
Meeting to discuss a possible new agreement
The sources said that these talks are expected to take place today at an undisclosed location in Europe. However, officials in the four countries have not officially confirmed the meeting.
Netanyahu said in a press conference, “Qatar hosts the leaders of Hamas. It also funds Hamas. And it has influence over Hamas.” He added, “So, we ask them to exert that pressure. They play the role of mediator, so please go ahead and ask them to release our hostages.”
Qatar and Egypt have open communication channels with Israel and Hamas. In November, they mediated a ceasefire during which Hamas released some Israeli prisoners out of the 253 held since the October 7th attack.
In return, the occupation agreed to increase aid entering the devastated sector and release dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
Efforts to reach a new agreement to release at least some of the 132 prisoners still held in Gaza seem to be diminishing, while protests in Israel demanding more efforts from the occupation government are increasing.
Netanyahu attacks Qatar and embarrasses Sisi
Qatar has not yet responded to Netanyahu’s comments. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last Wednesday that it “condemns” Netanyahu’s comments, which came in a leaked recording broadcast by an Israeli TV channel. In the recording, Netanyahu expressed his reluctance to thank Qatar for its mediation and described the Gulf state as “problematic.”
Netanyahu, when asked in his weekly briefing on Saturday about those comments, said, “I will not retract any word.”
The relationship between Israel and Qatar has long been tense, as Qatar does not officially recognize Israel. After the Gaza war in 2014, Israel agreed to allow Qatar to inject hundreds of millions of dollars for reconstruction in the sector, a step described by Doha and Israel as a means to prevent any further conflict.
The quadripartite meeting comes following Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s public criticism of Israel last week, accusing it of hindering the entry of aid into Gaza as a means to pressure for the release of hostages.
Netanyahu mentioned that “relations with Egypt are managed continuously and appropriately between the two governments, all the time.”
In a cryptic response that sparked controversy and raised doubts about the Egyptian president and his stance, he added, “Each of us, of course, has his interests. Egypt needs to say certain things. I will not elaborate on this matter.”