According to a Qatari official and an Israeli source quoted by Axios, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, who had come to meet him in Doha, that the assassination in Beirut of Saleh al-Arouri on January 3 would significantly complicate efforts to reach a new agreement.
“The Prime Minister said it is more difficult to talk to Hamas after what happened in Beirut,” said the Qatari official concerned.
This was the first meeting of its kind between the Qatari Prime Minister and the families of Israeli hostages. His message illustrates the complexity of the efforts being made to reach a new hostage agreement at a time of rising tensions throughout the region.
Qatar, along with Egypt, is one of the main intermediaries for negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The two countries are currently working on a new agreement aimed at obtaining the release of at least 40 hostages, in exchange for a pause of several weeks in the fighting in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Qatar, as mediator, is trying to maintain channels of communication with Hamas, although this is becoming increasingly difficult with the escalation of bombings in Gaza and elsewhere.
