JERUSALEM: Qatar said on Wednesday it was “appalled” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alleged remarks on its mediation role in the Gaza war after he called the Gulf state “problematic” in a leaked recording.
“We are appalled by the alleged remarks attributed to the Israeli Prime Minister in various media reports about Qatar’s mediation role,” said Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari.
“If the reported remarks are found to be true, the Israeli PM would only be obstructing and undermining the mediation process, for reasons that appear to serve his political career instead of prioritizing saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages,” he wrote.
In a leaked recording from a meeting with hostage families that aired on Israel’s Channel 12 news on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Qatar “problematic.”
“You haven’t seen me thank Qatar, have you noticed? I haven’t thanked Qatar. Why? Because Qatar, to me, is no different in essence from the UN, from the Red Cross and in a way it’s even more problematic. However, I’m willing to use any mediator now who can help me bring them (the hostages) home.”
An Israeli government spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on Qatar’s statement or whether the leaked recording was authentic.
Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, has served as the main mediator between the movement that governs Gaza and Israeli officials in the conflict.
In November, Qatar helped secure a seven-day pause in fighting, during which 110 Israeli and foreign hostages were released from Gaza in return for 240 Palestinians released from Israeli captivity.
In the recording, Netanyahu went on to say that Qatar has leverage over Hamas because it funds the movement. He told the hostage families that he recently “got very angry with the Americans” for renewing a deal to extend US military presence at a base in Qatar.
The Qatari spokesman said in his statement: “Instead of concerning himself with Qatar’s strategic relations with the United States, we hope Netanyahu decides to operate in good faith and concentrate on the release of the hostages.”
Qatar says Netanyahu’s reported criticism undermines Gaza mediation
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Qatar says Netanyahu’s reported criticism undermines Gaza mediation
- Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, has served as the main mediator between the movement that governs Gaza and Israeli officials in the conflict
Iranian FM slams WEF’s ‘double standards’ after revoking his invite, but keeping Israeli president’s
Iranian FM slams WEF’s ‘double standards’ after revoking his invite, but keeping Israeli president’s
- Araghchi rejected the decision, claiming his appearance was cancelled “on the basis of lies and political pressure”
DUBAI: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the World Economic Forum for rescinding his invitation to the annual meeting in Davos amid international scrutiny of his country’s crackdown on recent nationwide protests, accusing the forum of applying “blatant double standards” and succumbing to Western pressure.
The WEF confirmed that Araghchi will not attend this year’s summit, running until Jan. 23, saying that “although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year.”
In a post on X, Araghchi rejected the decision, claiming his appearance was cancelled “on the basis of lies and political pressure from Israel and its US‑based proxies and apologists.”
The Iranian minister criticized what he called the WEF’s “blatant double standards” for keeping an invitation open to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog despite international accusations of genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.
He also referenced Herzog’s participation in Davos in January 2024 despite legal complaints filed against him in Switzerland over his country’s conduct during its war in Gaza, which killed around 71,000 people.
“If WEF wants to feign a supposedly ‘moral’ stance, that is its prerogative. But it should at least be consistent about it,” Araghchi wrote, arguing that the decision exposed a “moral depravity and intellectual bankruptcy.”
Israel’s Herzog is scheduled to participate in a moderated discussion at WEF on Thursday.
