Witkoff hails impact of Qatari Prime Minister in Gaza peace process

The United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has hailed the impact of the Prime Minister of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in deliberations towards bringing peace in Gaza.

The State of Qatar has been leading the mediation process towards restoring stability to Gaza, and Witkoff, appointed by US President Donald Trump as Special Envoy, says Al Thani, who has been the liaison between the Palestinian Movement and Israel, has been critical in the entire decision-making process.

In an interview with renowned American commentator and TV presenter, Tucker Carlson, on the popular The Tucker Carlson Show, Witkoff described the Qatari Prime Minister, who doubles as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the key man in the process.

“The Prime Minister of Qatar (His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani) is a good man. He is a special guy, and he cares.

 “I spent a lot of time with him and broken bread with him and he’s just a good decent human being who wants the best for his people,” Witkoff said.

Since the US has no direct communication with the Palestinian movement, the Qatari Prime Minister is the main person who communicates with the Palestinian movement (Hamas); the US Special Envoy added that there were no reasons to doubt the outcome of meetings between the two.

“We trust the Qataris. If I didn’t trust the Qataris, then that would be really problematic, not meeting with Hamas.

“He (His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani) can put himself in the shoes of the Israelis, of the US, and explain to Hamas where they have to get to make a deal.”

Witkoff expressed optimism in the abilities of Qatar in the mediation process towards ending the decade-long stand-off.

“In the case of the Qataris, they are criticised for not being well-motivated. It’s preposterous. They are well motivated. They are good, decent people. What they want is an effective mediation that gets to a peace goal.”

According to the US special envoy, he is baffled by criticisms of Qatar as far as the mediation process is concerned.

“Qatar is a small nation, probably has the highest GDP per capita, per person of anyone in the world, huge reserves. They want stability and don’t get enough credit for that motivation. 

“They want to be acknowledged as a peacemaker. There’s no doubt that they are an ally of the United States”

He concluded that negotiations are ongoing to bring an end to the standoff and restore peace to Gaza in the not-too-distant future.

His Excellency Al Thani was appointed Prime Minister of Qatar on March 7, 2023, and has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs since January 2016.