What's happened
US officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff expressed feelings of betrayal after Israel's September strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar disrupted Gaza ceasefire negotiations. They highlighted the impact on US-Qatar relations and the difficulty in maintaining dialogue with Hamas amid regional tensions.
What's behind the headline?
The recent revelations from Kushner and Witkoff shed light on the internal US perspective during a critical diplomatic juncture. Their feelings of betrayal highlight the fragility of US-mediated negotiations and the risks of unilateral military actions by Israel that undermine diplomatic trust. The strike in Qatar, which failed to kill Hamas leaders but caused regional diplomatic fallout, underscores the complex balancing act in Middle East diplomacy. The US's reaffirmation of Qatar's security indicates a strategic pivot to protect regional alliances, but it also exposes the limits of US influence when regional actors act independently. Moving forward, the US will likely prioritize stabilizing Qatar's role and rebuilding trust with regional mediators, while Israel faces increased diplomatic scrutiny for actions that threaten broader peace efforts. The incident exemplifies how military actions can derail diplomatic progress, emphasizing the need for coordinated, multilateral approaches to conflict resolution in the region.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports that Kushner and Witkoff felt 'betrayed' after Israel's strike on Qatar, which disrupted Gaza ceasefire negotiations and led to Qatar's temporary withdrawal from mediation efforts. The article emphasizes the internal US perspective and the diplomatic fallout, quoting Kushner and Witkoff on the impact of the strike and the importance of Qatar's role. The New Arab provides additional context, noting that the attack on Qatar drew global outrage and complicated US efforts to mediate peace, with Trump reaffirming Qatar's security. Both sources highlight the internal US reflections and the regional diplomatic tensions, illustrating the broader implications of Israel's military actions on Middle East diplomacy.
How we got here
The US brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, involving negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. Israel's strike on Hamas leaders in Doha in September, aimed at targeting Hamas' political leadership, was seen as a setback, causing diplomatic tensions and complicating ongoing negotiations. The incident led to Qatar's temporary withdrawal from mediation efforts and drew international criticism, prompting the US to reaffirm its support for Qatar's security and to push for renewed dialogue.
Go deeper
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Jared Corey Kushner is an American investor, real-estate developer, and newspaper publisher who is currently senior advisor to his father-in-law, Donald Trump, the President of the United States.
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Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate investor and landlord based in New York City, and founder of the Witkoff Group.
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Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.