Qatar says it can convince Hamas to disarm, accept Trump’s hostage deal

The development coincided with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s talks at the White House.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Qatar has told the United States that it is prepared to bring Hamas on board with President Donald Trump’s proposal for Gaza, including the group’s demilitarization, according to reports circulated Monday.

Sources cited by Sky News Arabia and The Jerusalem Post stated that Qatari officials assured Washington and regional partners that they could persuade Hamas to accept the framework outlined in Trump’s 21-point plan.

The development coincided with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s talks at the White House.

While he met with Trump, senior Qatari representatives were also in Washington for separate discussions tied to the negotiations, people familiar with the matter said.

During the visit, Netanyahu placed a call to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Israeli outlets reported that he apologized for the September 9 Israeli strike in Doha, which killed a Qatari guard and several Hamas operatives but failed to hit senior leadership.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN noted that the apology was necessary for Qatar to stay engaged in ceasefire and hostage mediation.

In addition, CNN reported that a Qatari adviser visited the White House in the days leading up to Netanyahu’s arrival, highlighting Doha’s direct involvement in the process.

Pressure is also coming from other Arab states. Reuters quoted a regional delegate as saying the United Arab Emirates urged Netanyahu to accept the Gaza deal and set aside annexation of Judea and Samaria.

The UAE, the most prominent Arab state to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, warned that any move toward annexation would close off opportunities for further normalization with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.