Qatar 'reconsiders' mediation role in Israel-Hamas war as Prime Minister claims his country was 'exploited' by leaders while overseeing hostage negotiations

Qatar is 'reconsidering' its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas after its Prime Minister claimed his country was 'exploited' by leaders while overseeing hostage negotiations.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani said there had been an 'abuse' of Qatar's mediation for 'narrow political interests.'

He did not name any politicians in his remarks, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised Qatar and recently threatened to shutter Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Top Hamas leaders live in exile in Qatar, which is seen as one of the only parties with influence over the militant group.

Al Thani said there were 'limits' to the role of mediator and 'to the ability to which we can contribute to these negotiations in a constructive manner.'

'Qatar is in the process of a complete re-evaluation of its role,' Al Thani told a joint Doha news conference alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, yesterday.

'There is exploitation and abuse of the Qatari role,' he said, adding that Qatar had been the victim of 'point-scoring' by 'politicians who are trying to conduct election campaigns by slighting the State of Qatar'.

Qatar has been a key intermediary throughout the war in Gaza, and along with the US and Egypt, was instrumental in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages.

The three countries have been engaged on weeks of behind-the-scenes talks aiming to secure a truce in war-torn Gaza as well as the release of 133 Israeli captives held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Mediators have been trying to push Hamas and Israel toward a cease-fire deal, and hoped to have had secured one before the start of Ramadan last month, but the sides continue to remain far apart on key terms.

Earlier Wednesday, Al Thani said negotiations had stalled.

'We are going through a sensitive stage with some stalling, and we are trying as much as possible to address this stalling,' the Qatari premier said.

Al Thani's comments come after the US Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer criticised Doha's mediation role on Monday and threatened to 'reevaluate' the ties between Washington and Doha.

Hoyer said that Qatar must threaten Hamas with 'repercussions' if the militant Palestinian group 'continues to block progress toward releasing the hostages and establishing a temporary ceasefire.' 

The Qatari Embassy in Washington snapped back at Hoyer's remarks, which it called 'surprising' and 'not constructive'.

'Qatar is only a mediator — we do not control Israel or Hamas. Israel and Hamas are entirely responsible for reaching an agreement,' the Qatari embassy said in a previous statement on Tuesday. 

The Gulf diplomatic power has received backlash by both US and Israeli officials since it began its mediation role in the wake of the October 7 massacre led by Hamas on Israel.

This is despite Qatar's crucial role in mediating the release of more than 100 captives from Hamas' clutches last year.

The ceasefire discussions are being held against the backdrop of a humanitarian disaster brewing in Gaza, where Palestinians are suffering severe shortages of food, power, medicine, and other essentials. 

A week-long ceasefire in November saw 105 hostages - most of them women and children - freed in return for some 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

During the Doha press conference yesterday, the Qatari and Turkish officials emphasised the urgent need to end the brutal war in Gaza.

The conflict has entered its seventh month without plans for a ceasefire in sight - and with the numbers of killed Palestinians nearing a staggering 34,000, according to the Gaza health ministry.

US President Joe Biden also voiced his concerns regarding the conflict in the Middle East and reiterated his demands for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

'The United States is committed to a ceasefire that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict from spreading,' Biden said in the Oval Office ahead of his meeting with and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa Al-Sudani on Monday, following Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend.

Iran launched around 350 drone and missiles into the country - most of which were intercepted thanks to Israel's Iron Dome air defence system and the help of the British and US military.

The Qatari premier said Doha had 'warned from the beginning of this war against the expansion of the circle of conflict, and today we see conflicts on different fronts.

'We constantly call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and stop this war,' he added, stating the people of Gaza faced 'siege and starvation' with humanitarian aid being used as a 'tool for political blackmail.'

Palestinian media reported yesterday that there had been intense bombardment and fighting around Nuseirat refugee camp, where 11 members of the al-Nouri family were reportedly killed in a strike on their home on Tuesday. 

The Israeli military also said its forces had carried out a raid 'to apprehend terrorists hiding in schools' in the northern town of Beit Hanoun. 

A number of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives were detained and others who resisted were killed, it added. 

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been accused of beating and torturing captured Palestinians - including UN staff - and subjecting them to extreme sexual violence.

The accusations were documented in a United Nations report on Tuesday, one which was fiercely contested by Israel.

Israeli soldiers allegedly held detainees in cages, deprived them of food, water and sleep and tortured them during interrogation. 

It came as the Israeli authorities released over 150 Palestinian detainees on Monday morning after they had been captured in different parts of the Gaza Strip.

The detainees were delivered to Kerem Shalom, a crossing on the border of Egypt, Israel and Gaza.

The devastating UNRWA report is based on the information obtained as a result of the group's role carrying out humanitarian aid at the crossing point.

Released Palestinians allege they were forced to drink toilet water, were attacked by dogs and faced threats that their relatives would be killed, according to the UN report.

A man, aged 41, quoted in the report, said he was sexually violated with a hot metal rod.

He said he was also beaten with shoes and watched as other detainees succumbed to their injuries.