Qatar concerned over ceasefire violations, insists on impartial stabilization force in Gaza
The meeting, held on Wednesday, officially launched the seventh U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, with both sides reaffirming their strategic partnership
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington amid continued diplomatic efforts to navigate the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, officially launched the seventh U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, with both sides reaffirming their strategic partnership and commitment to shared economic and security objectives. However, the official U.S. readout made no reference to Gaza, despite the meeting taking place against the backdrop of the two-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
According to the US State Department summary, discussions focused on Secretary Rubio’s “appreciation for Qatar’s role in supporting American objectives” globally and a desire for “close collaboration” across a range of regional and international issues.
This public framing stood in contrast to the immediate diplomatic context of the talks. They followed sustained mediation efforts and discussions around launching a complex second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which would require the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF).
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Al Thani offered a markedly different emphasis. He said Qatar had raised direct concerns with U.S. officials over repeated violations of the Gaza truce, warning that such breaches place mediators in an “embarrassing position” and threaten the viability of the ceasefire.
Al Thani articulated a central Qatari condition for any future arrangements in Gaza, stressing the need for neutrality. “We do not want a stabilization force in Gaza that serves to protect one party at the expense of another,” he said, underscoring Doha’s insistence on the impartiality of any international force deployed in the territory.
Beyond the meeting with Secretary Rubio, the Qatari delegation also engaged in a series of discussions on Capitol Hill, holding talks with several US senators and representatives.
The broader outreach reflects Qatar’s active and multifaceted diplomatic role, both as a key mediator in regional conflicts and as a strategic partner seeking to align — and at times carefully distance — its positions from those of Washington on sensitive issues such as the Gaza genocide and its aftermath.
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