Qatar and the U.S. both want a stable Middle East

OPINION:

As negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza neared their conclusion earlier this month, it was widely reported that Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, and Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, were working closely with the prime minister of Qatar on the deal.

In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, both sides acknowledged the importance of Qatar as a crucial mediator to bring the deal to fruition. Right up until the deal was announced, the prime minister resolved the final differences between the two parties in coordination with the two American diplomats.

In the days following the deal, Steve Witkoff told Fox News that “Qatar was enormously helpful” and that the Qatari prime minister’s communication skills with Hamas were “indispensable.” Our close collaboration with the U.S. and our ability to secure the ceasefire agreement led to three hostages being reunited with their families last week and allowed displaced Palestinian families to start rebuilding their lives.

As we approach the one-week milestone since the ceasefire took effect and as we prepare for the expected release of the second group of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, our primary focus remains to ensure that both sides honor the terms of the agreement. In coordination with our American and Egyptian counterparts, we are working around the clock in a dedicated operations room in Cairo to solve problems as they arise and ensure that both parties remain committed to the deal.

At the same time, we are also mindful that the second phase of the ceasefire agreement has yet to be negotiated. Talks for the second and third phases will begin on the 16th day of the deal’s implementation — potentially even sooner — and it is critical to maintain positive momentum if a permanent ceasefire is to be reached.

As we continue these efforts, we know that our role as a mediator is often misrepresented and that some want to undermine the momentum, typically for political purposes, to serve their own agendas.

For example, a recent opinion piece in The Washington Times falsely referred to Qatar as “duplicitous” and a supporter of terrorism. Irresponsible attacks such as this are part of a broader campaign to try to drive a wedge between Qatar and the United States as security partners.

Allegations that Qatar supports or funds Hamas have been repeatedly debunked. Qatar has engaged with Hamas through its political office for over a decade, in coordination with the United States, following a request to establish indirect lines of communication. The Israeli government has also used this arrangement, and the office has contributed to stability and saved lives on both sides for years.

Regarding funding, Qatar has never provided financial aid to Hamas. Aid provided by Qatar has been directed to Palestinian civilians and has always been coordinated with both the Israeli and U.S. governments. Qatar’s humanitarian aid has always been to alleviate the daily suffering of Palestinians and promote stability.

As the U.S. enters a new administration under President Trump, Qatar’s role as a trusted security partner remains as strong as ever. We continue to work with our American counterparts on shared foreign policy objectives. Earlier this week, Qatar helped secure the release of two Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were detained in Afghanistan.

There is still much work to be done with the United States and Egypt to mediate a lasting truce in Gaza. If we can achieve this, we will lay the foundations for a stable Middle East free from conflict — an objective shared by the U.S. and Qatar.

• Ali Al Ansari, media attache at the Qatari Embassy in Washington.