With the onset of the ceasefire, Qatar swiftly resumed fuel deliveries to Gaza—with Israel’s approval—as it had done before the war. This development, along with Qatar’s role in successfully mediating the agreement between Israel and Hamas, may help it maintain its status as a key player in Gaza—despite its support for Hamas and contrary to the declarations and expectations in Israel following the October 7 attack.
If the ceasefire holds and the hostage issue reaches its long-awaited resolution, Israel may no longer need to rely on Qatari mediation. However, in the absence of a “day after” plan for Gaza, it’s doubtful that any actor besides Doha would be willing to lead the massive reconstruction efforts in the Strip and provide basic necessities for its residents while Hamas remains a significant force in the region.
Furthermore, the Qataris have started off on the right foot with the new US administration by fulfilling President Trump’s request to secure the release of hostages before his inauguration. Reports also suggest that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, has economic ties in Qatar, which may encourage closer political relations between the two countries.
Qatar seeks to solidify its influence by leveraging its aid to Gaza for political dividends. From its perspective, fuel deliveries to the Strip are just the first step in Gaza’s reconstruction, with the agreement effectively marking the end of the war. When recently asked if the emirate would adopt a more pro-Israel and anti-Hamas stance given Trump’s return, Qatari officials simply replied that they “hope they will not be asked to do so.”
The war has demonstrated that Qatar is an international player that Israel cannot alone confront and certainly not isolate. Israel should engage with the incoming American administration to understand its position on Qatar and clarify where Qatar threatens Israeli interests in the context of the Gaza Strip and beyond. In general, Israel should assess whether severing Qatar’s ties with Hamas is feasible, given the terror organization’s continued influence in Gaza, or whether it should identify areas for cooperation with Qatar, as long as it serves Israeli interests.
With the onset of the ceasefire, Qatar swiftly resumed fuel deliveries to Gaza—with Israel’s approval—as it had done before the war. This development, along with Qatar’s role in successfully mediating the agreement between Israel and Hamas, may help it maintain its status as a key player in Gaza—despite its support for Hamas and contrary to the declarations and expectations in Israel following the October 7 attack.
If the ceasefire holds and the hostage issue reaches its long-awaited resolution, Israel may no longer need to rely on Qatari mediation. However, in the absence of a “day after” plan for Gaza, it’s doubtful that any actor besides Doha would be willing to lead the massive reconstruction efforts in the Strip and provide basic necessities for its residents while Hamas remains a significant force in the region.
Furthermore, the Qataris have started off on the right foot with the new US administration by fulfilling President Trump’s request to secure the release of hostages before his inauguration. Reports also suggest that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, has economic ties in Qatar, which may encourage closer political relations between the two countries.
Qatar seeks to solidify its influence by leveraging its aid to Gaza for political dividends. From its perspective, fuel deliveries to the Strip are just the first step in Gaza’s reconstruction, with the agreement effectively marking the end of the war. When recently asked if the emirate would adopt a more pro-Israel and anti-Hamas stance given Trump’s return, Qatari officials simply replied that they “hope they will not be asked to do so.”
The war has demonstrated that Qatar is an international player that Israel cannot alone confront and certainly not isolate. Israel should engage with the incoming American administration to understand its position on Qatar and clarify where Qatar threatens Israeli interests in the context of the Gaza Strip and beyond. In general, Israel should assess whether severing Qatar’s ties with Hamas is feasible, given the terror organization’s continued influence in Gaza, or whether it should identify areas for cooperation with Qatar, as long as it serves Israeli interests.