TEHRAN – The influence of Hamas leaders across the region, targeting Israel’s latest strike Doha leaders, has raised questions about the future of ceasefire negotiations and Qatar’s role as a reliable mediator.
The September 9 attack coincided with the opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, cast new doubts on Washington’s credibility as a broker, highlighting the vulnerability of the Arab capital, hosting sensitive consultations.
In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times, Alief Sabbag, Palestinian political analyst at QUDS (Jerusalem), who specializes in the strategy of the Zionist regime, examines the potential impact of Israel’s broader objectives, US collusion, the risks facing host countries, and the potential outcomes of diplomacy in the region of Gaza.
Below is the full interview:
Will Israeli strikes against targeting Hamas leaders in Doha have an impact on regional mediation efforts and ceasefire negotiations?
Yes, I believe that negotiations will be affected by terrorist operations carried out in Doha by Israel and the United States. Qatar’s Prime Minister has announced that it will “suspend” on Qatar’s participation in mediation. Negotiations may resume later along one of two paths.
The first path is that Israel and the United States may try to move negotiations to Cairo to tell Qatar that it will not affect what America and Israel want. However, I believe Egypt and Hamas do not allow this at the moment.
The second, better, could emerge as a result of US-Israel terrorist operations and Pastinas terrorist operations. Palestinian negotiating delegations have provided important services to Israel in the US allies, particularly in the Arab capitals that they consider to be the Persian Gulf state.
On this path, the United States was removed from the role of mediator and sponsorship, and the United Nations became official sponsors and administered negotiations between Israel and Hamas through the special envoy of the Secretary-General.
This requires international decisions, but most of all, the Palestine and Arab demand agreed by the majority of the United Nations General Assembly or the Security Council. The problem remains. Do Arab countries dare to take this initiative or are they afraid of the rage of America?
Do you think this strike is a change in Israel’s strategy against Hamas and resistance?
Israel has not changed its strategy to Hamas and will not change it. Israel’s core strategy is aimed at the Palestinians as a whole, not specific organizations. Israel uses all military, political and economic measures and the “American stick” to erase Palestinian groups, the Palestinian identity, and either drive away or destroy the Palestinian people. Netanyahu and his government colleagues do not hesitate to use the word “extinction” (one of the most frequently used terms in the Hebrew) to mean “absolute victory” that Netanyahu set as the goal of this war of genocide.
What was the reaction of the international community, especially the Arab countries and the US, to this attack?
The United States tried to separate itself from this terrorist operation, but the facts emerged and Trump was unable to hide them.
He admitted some involvement when he said, “I was involved in the surgery. The plane was in the air, so I informed Qatar’s leadership,” but the facts that followed confirmed this was false.
Netanyahu, like White House officials, was also unable to exempt Trump. The US’s reliability as an already weak mediator has now completely evaporated. As America no longer has a venue for mediation, it must be recognized as a partner in attacks against the Palestinians.
With regard to Europe, aside from condemnation and condemnation, it does not take more action than the Arabs or Palestinians themselves.
Europe awaits not just words but practical Arab actions. However, I do not rule out that the US may allow Palestinian delegations to participate in the UN General Assembly in New York in exchange for continuing to act as official sponsors of negotiations at the request of the Ramala authorities.
What are the risks and lessons learned from implementing such operations in the host country?
Arab and Islamic host countries (the countries held or based on negotiating or diplomatic delegations) must understand that Israel does not respect the sovereignty of any nation, as long as the United States gives a green light.
Even if such recognition was not public, Israel could carry out similar terrorist operations in the Arab and Islamic capitals through its agents and agents.
How will this attack affect Qatar’s role and position as a regional political player?
Qatar’s role as a regional and international mediator is affected, especially as Qatar has served as a mediator in many of the transactions that advanced US strategies in the Middle East.
Qatar is seeking to strengthen its role as a regional and international mediator. At US demand, they brokered between Israel and Hamas and gathered Hamas leaders in Doha. The originally scheduled meeting at the hotel was moved to a private villa (bombed at the time) upon request from the US.
Hamas leadership may seek to move to Türkiye in place of Qatar.
Do you think this strike will promote regional unification and increase sectors and tensions?
This is what I say because I don’t want to provide analysis or make predictions based on “it should be.” This operation should serve as a crossroads in Arab countries, particularly the Persian Gulf countries, and urges practical measures to protect their security and sovereignty.
But in reality, these countries and their administrations are closely linked to the United States, economically, militaryally and therefore politically. Israel knows this very well. The United States does not view these regimes as allies, partners, or friends, but as “obedient” to the will of America. Therefore, Israel treats these regimes and their rulers with light emptying and does not respect their sovereignty or leadership.
The latest evidence is Netanyahu’s statement that he will pursue Hamas leaders wherever he is, regardless of national sovereignty. Tom Barack said to a Lebanese official that Israel does not recognize Sykespicot’s boundaries and intends to reach anywhere, regardless of borders or sovereignty. And on September 10th, Israel’s UN ambassador to the United Nations, Dani Danone said:
This statement is not new. Many Israeli leaders have said the same thing in the past and present, and no Arab leader has denied it.
This situation encourages Israel to carry out more terrorist acts, such as the Doha bombing, and to strengthen Israel’s light empt against Arab rulers. Therefore, I have not seen Arabs take practical action against Israel and the United States except in their oral positions, and at best they look to the UN General Assembly.
What role does international organizations play in dealing with this project?
International arenas are of the most important today, especially with the approaching of the Annual UN General Assembly Conference. Here, Arabs can mobilize international public opinion in their favor and take steps that could put pressure on the US and Israel.
However, this requires courage, especially from the rulers of the Persian Gulf. Because they are affected by Israeli terrorism and now face real threats that they have never thought were realistic in the past.