Qatar reassessing its role as mediator between Israel and Hamas

(23 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Doha, Qatar - 23 April 2024
1. Wide of room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Majid al Ansari, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"Qatar is undergoing a reassessment of its role as a mediator. This has to do with a lot of elements, including the campaigns against my country in various media outlets and by various officials that are attacking our country and its role as mediators."
3. Various cutaways
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Majid al Ansari, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"We have deep frustration with such statements, especially when they come out of officials who are part of the establishment and understand exactly what the role and coordination with the International Committee has been over the mediation and over its humanitarian role. And that is one of the reasons why we are now reassessing our role as as mediator."
5. Various cutaways
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Majid al Ansari, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"We need serious commitment by all sides to reach a deal, and certainly attacking the mediator does not show commitment, does not show seriousness, and does show a lack of enthusiasm in positively engaging in the mediation process. And this is what we are getting right now, especially from our Israeli counterparts, those ministers who have made these claims on record in the media claiming that Qatar has an ulterior motive in being a mediator."
7. Various cutaways
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Majid al Ansari, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"Regarding the Hamas office here in Doha, this office was opened in coordination with the United States for the purpose of mediation between both sides, as long as their presence here in Doha, as we have always said, is useful and positive in this mediation effort, they will remain here in Doha. That said, of course, as we said, we are reassessing our role as mediators, but any decisions regarding this issue will not be taken unless we are finished with that reassessment and we are ready to convey the results of this reassessment. But, as of now, nothing has changed in that regard."
9. Wide of room
STORYLINE:
Qatar said on Tuesday that it was in what it called a "re-evaluation phase" in trying to mediate talks between Israel and Hamas over a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
"We need to see seriousness from everyone," Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Doha.
He also said discussions were going on about Hamas' ongoing presence in Qatar.
The militant group has had a political office in Doha, Qatar, for years, but the Wall Street Journal has reported in recent days that Hamas could leave the country as the talks remain deadlocked.
Hamas has denied that the group was considering leaving Qatar.
AP video shot by Lujain Jo
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