The election of Donald Trump as US president has injected fresh momentum into long-stalled negotiations aimed at securing a truce and a crucial hostage exchange in the ongoing Gaza conflict, according to Qatar’s prime minister. Speaking at the Doha Forum for political dialogue on Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani declared a renewed sense of optimism, stating, “We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back.” This statement follows confirmation from a source close to the Hamas delegation that a new round of negotiations is “most likely” to commence in the coming week.
Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged subtle differences in approach between the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration, but emphasized a shared objective: ending the devastating conflict. “We didn’t see or recognize any disagreement on the goal itself to end the war,” he clarified. Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, has been deeply involved in months of unsuccessful mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In November, Doha temporarily suspended its mediation, citing a lack of sufficient willingness and seriousness from both Hamas and Israel. However, the renewed impetus, fueled by the incoming administration’s support, has prompted Qatar to actively reignite the talks.
The Qatari prime minister highlighted significant encouragement from the Trump administration, even before the official inauguration, stating this spurred Qatar’s decision to restart negotiations over the past two weeks. “We hope to get things done as soon as possible. We hope that the willingness of the parties to engage in good faith continues,” Sheikh Mohammed expressed. A Hamas source, speaking anonymously, corroborated this optimism to AFP, stating, “Based on contacts with the mediators, we expect a new round of negotiations to begin in Cairo, most likely this week, to discuss ideas and proposals regarding a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange.”
The devastating conflict began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to AFP tallies based on official figures. This attack also involved the kidnapping of 251 individuals, with 96—including 34 declared dead by the Israeli military—remaining in Gaza. Israel’s subsequent retaliatory military campaign has caused at least 44,664 fatalities in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, based on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry—which the UN considers reliable.
President-elect Trump issued a strong warning this week via social media, hinting at unspecified massive repercussions if the hostages are not released before his inauguration. Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, coupled with his promise to curb the occasional criticisms voiced by the Biden administration, underscores a significant shift in US foreign policy regarding the conflict.
Finally, Sheikh Mohammed addressed concerns about potential increased pressure on Qatar regarding its hosting of the Hamas political bureau since 2012, a move previously sanctioned by the United States. He characterized the office as a crucial “platform to convene between the different parties,” emphasizing that Qatar’s role is not to enforce solutions on Hamas but to facilitate dialogue and negotiations. The renewed hope for a resolution hangs heavily on the willingness of all parties involved to engage in good faith, particularly in light of the significant changes anticipated under the incoming Trump administration.
