Doha, Qatar – Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has called for inclusive engagement, including with non-state actors such as the Palestinian group Hamas, as the only viable route to regional peace.
Speaking to American journalist Tucker Carlson on Sunday at the Doha Forum, Sheikh Mohammed said a solution cannot be resolved or reached “if there is no one to talk to non-state actors.”
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The beginning of Qatar's relationship with Hamas dates back more than 10 years, he said, adding that the opening of the group's office in the country came at the request of the United States, with the aim of improving communications with the armed group.
“When they [Hamas] They moved their office here in 2012 [Qatar]it was used only for communications and to facilitate the ceasefire and aid to Gaza,” said Sheikh Mohammed, who is also foreign minister.
Qatar has also hosted the Taliban's political office since 2013, during the group's war with the United States and the former Afghan government. The office was also established at Washington's request to create a venue for possible peace negotiations.
Sheikh Mohammed refuted accusations that any money going to Gaza goes to Hamas, insisting it go to the Palestinian people.
“Politicians are trying to use this for short-term political gain… to feed their narratives,” the prime minister said.
“All of our help, funding, and all of our support…was for the people of Gaza, and it was a very transparent process that the United States is very aware of… [and] Israel was the one who facilitated.
“This communication has led to a ceasefire, it has led to the release of hostages, it has led to alleviating the suffering of the people there,” he added.
Israeli attack on Qatar is 'unethical'
Speaking about Israel's shocking attack on Qatar in September, Sheikh Mohammed described it as an “unethical move.”
“The concept of mediation is like having a safe place for conflicting parties to reach an agreement, end wars and end conflicts,” he said.
“For one of the parties to bombard the mediator… this is unprecedented.”
The prime minister revealed that Israel's actions took US President Donald Trump by surprise.
“President Trump was very clear from the beginning… When he was informed about the attack, he assigned one of his advisors to contact us immediately. He expressed his frustration, his disappointment, because he knows everything about the process and how helpful we were throughout the process,” he said.
“He made it very clear to everyone that this is like the red line, that he doesn't want anyone to cross it.”
Gaza reconstruction
On rebuilding a devastated Gaza following Israel's ongoing two-year genocidal war, Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar would “continue to support the Palestinian people.”
“We will do everything possible to alleviate their suffering,” he emphasized.
However, he said Qatar “will not write the check for what others destroyed.”
“When it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we hear that Russia should finance the entire reconstruction, and its assets should be confiscated to finance the entire reconstruction of Ukraine,” he noted. “[But] When you talk about Israel… and you say that Israel has the responsibility to rebuild what was destroyed, they will tell you no. It's really a very ironic double standard.
“Our position is that our payments will only be used to help the Palestinian people, if we see that the aid reaching them is insufficient,” Sheikh Mohammed added.
According to UN estimates, 92 percent of all residential buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since Israel's war against the besieged enclave began on October 7, 2023, producing between 55 and 60 million tons of rubble. The UN has estimated that reconstruction will take decades.
Furthermore, the prime minister strongly opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel.
“It hurts us when we hear people talk about the people of Gaza as if they were some kind of different people,” he said.
“They have the choice of where to go and they don't want to leave their country,” he added. “I don't see that anyone has the right to deport them or force them to go somewhere else.”
