Doha, Qatar – Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has called for inclusive engagement with all parties, including non-state actors such as Hamas, as the only viable route to achieving lasting regional peace. Speaking to U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson at the Doha Forum on December 6, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that conflicts cannot be resolved without maintaining communication channels with all stakeholders.

“You cannot reach a solution if you have no one speaking to non-state actors,” the Qatari prime minister said, highlighting Qatar’s unique role as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts.

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Qatar’s Historic Engagement with Hamas and the Taliban

Sheikh Mohammed traced Qatar’s engagement with Hamas back more than a decade, noting that the opening of Hamas’ office in Doha in 2012 was at the request of the United States to facilitate communications, ceasefires, and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“When they [Hamas] moved their office here in 2012, it was used only for communication and to facilitate ceasefires and aid to Gaza,” Sheikh Mohammed explained.

Similarly, Qatar has hosted the Taliban’s political office since 2013 during the group’s conflict with U.S. forces and the Afghan government, also at Washington’s request. These offices serve as venues for potential peace negotiations and underscore Qatar’s reputation as a neutral facilitator in international conflicts.

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Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Sheikh Mohammed firmly rejected allegations that aid sent to Gaza benefits Hamas, insisting that all support goes directly to the Palestinian people.

“All our aid, financing, and support went to the people in Gaza, and it was a very transparent process that the United States is very aware of … [and] Israel was the one facilitating,” he said.

He added that Qatar’s engagement had tangible results, including temporary ceasefires, the release of hostages, and efforts to alleviate civilian suffering.

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Response to Israel’s Attack on Qatar

The Qatari prime minister described Israel’s September attack on Qatar as “unethical,” criticizing the unprecedented bombing of a mediator involved in regional peace efforts.

“The concept of mediation is like having a safe place for conflicted parties to achieve a deal, to end wars and conflicts,” he said.
“The mediator being bombed by one of the parties – this has been unprecedented.”

Sheikh Mohammed revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump was caught off guard by the attack and immediately tasked an adviser to contact Doha, expressing frustration and emphasizing the violation of a critical “red line” in the mediation process.

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Reconstruction of Gaza

Addressing the devastation in Gaza following Israel’s ongoing war, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian population.

“We will do whatever to alleviate their suffering,” he said.
“We will not write the cheque for what others destroyed. Our payments will go only to help the Palestinian people if we see that aid coming to them is insufficient.”

According to UN estimates, 92 percent of residential buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since the war began in October 2023, leaving between 55–60 million tonnes of rubble. Reconstruction is expected to take decades. Sheikh Mohammed strongly opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing their right to remain in their homeland.

“It’s hurting us when we hear people talking about the people of Gaza as some sort of different people,” he said.
“They have the choice where to go, and they don’t want to leave their country. I don’t see anyone has the right to deport them or force them to go somewhere else.”

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Qatar’s Role in Regional Mediation

The prime minister’s remarks highlight Qatar’s ongoing role as a neutral intermediary in regional conflicts, engaging with non-state actors to ensure dialogue continues even in complex geopolitical crises. By hosting offices for Hamas and the Taliban, facilitating humanitarian aid, and maintaining open channels of communication with international partners, Qatar positions itself as a critical player in Middle East peace efforts.