In a dramatic address, Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani confessed Hamas must disarm and praised President Trump’s assurances to protect Qatar’s mediation role after Israel’s precision strike in Doha rattled the Gulf.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has publicly reaffirmed his country’s commitment to sustaining the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — while, in a stunning admission, acknowledging that Hamas must accept disarmament and potentially relinquish control of Gaza.
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Al Thani reflected on Israel’s recent targeted strike on Hamas leaders in Doha — an operation that he described as a “shock” but that, notably, underscored Israel’s uncompromising stance on terrorism even in foreign sanctuaries. The strike, which eliminated senior Hamas figures during active mediation efforts, prompted Gulf leaders to reconsider their own exposure to the terror group’s networks.
“The concept itself — to feel betrayed, that you are attacking a mediation while it’s ongoing — this has never been thought of,” Al Thani said, revealing that a Qatari national was killed in the attack. Yet he added that U.S. President Donald Trump swiftly intervened, assuring Doha that Israel’s actions were aimed squarely at terror elements and that Washington would reinforce protocols to prevent future diplomatic fallout.
The Qatari premier also admitted the latest ceasefire violations originated from Palestinian factions, not Israel. “Some statements mentioned that this group was out of communication, and others claimed they were unrelated to Hamas. It doesn’t matter who did what. What matters is ensuring this event doesn’t collapse the agreement,” he noted — effectively acknowledging Hamas’s internal fragmentation and loss of control.
Despite Qatar’s historically strained ties with Israel, Al Thani praised the Jewish state’s pragmatic approach in indirect negotiations. “Even though our position with Israel is not the best — because for us, they are still occupying Arab land — we never dealt with them unfairly. We’ve always listened to their concerns and proposed solutions that could realistically be implemented,” he said, signaling a shift toward diplomatic realism in the Gulf.
In his most revealing statement, the Qatari leader confirmed that Doha is actively pressuring Hamas to accept disarmament as part of the long-term stability framework. “We are trying to pressure Hamas to acknowledge that disarmament is necessary,” Al Thani stated — a stunning departure from Qatar’s past rhetoric, implying that even Hamas’s closest backers now see Israel’s security demands as legitimate.
The comments mark a pivotal moment in the regional landscape, as Qatar aligns itself with U.S.-led efforts to transform Gaza from a terror stronghold into a demilitarized zone — a cornerstone of President Trump’s broader Middle East peace vision.
