Washington, United States – US envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that the Israeli attack on Qatar during ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas last month caused a major crisis of confidence among mediators and cast a shadow over peace efforts.
In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Witkoff and former US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said they “felt betrayed” by the Israeli strike on Doha. The strike targeted leaders of the Hamas movement.
Kushner explained that President Trump “believed that Israel had lost control of its decisions.” He added that Trump felt it was time to “intervene forcefully.” The goal was to prevent Israeli steps that could harm its long-term interests.
Loss of trust of brokers
Witkoff noted that the Israeli raids on the Qatari capital had a “widespread impact.” They caused a loss of confidence among the Qataris, who were key partners in the negotiations. Alongside Qatar, Egypt and Turkey participated in the negotiations.
He added, “After those raids, Hamas disappeared from sight, and it became very difficult to continue talks with it.”
Israeli apology and guarantees of non-repetition
The White House revealed in September that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had held a three-way call with President Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
During the meeting, he expressed his “deep regret” for the violation of Qatari sovereignty and the death of a Qatari soldier as a result of the attack.
The White House statement explained that Trump proposed establishing a tripartite mechanism between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Doha. The goal is to enhance coordination, resolve disputes, and ensure that such incidents do not recur, and the three leaders accepted the proposal.
Netanyahu affirmed, according to the statement, that Israel “will not carry out any similar attack on Qatari territory in the future.” The Qatari Prime Minister welcomed the Israeli assurances, reiterating his country’s readiness to continue its role in supporting regional security and stability.
Political implications
This development reflects the complexity of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with regional interests intertwined and Qatar’s role as a key interlocutor.
This is in addition to American pressure to restore relations between Doha and Tel Aviv to a more stable path. This is necessary after years of tension and mutual misunderstanding.
