A Qatari official said on Friday that the Gulf nation is working to de-escalate the situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, as tensions have soared in recent months, saying that Qatar is acting as a mediator.
Qatar is reportedly seeking to “deescalate the situation on all sides,” and its "primary goal" is to prevent unnecessary bloodshed and avoid destructive consequences for Palestinians and civilians. However, the details of Qatar's mediation are unclear, as Qatar doesn't have official diplomatic relations with Israel.
Qatar is playing an important role in de-escalating an incredibly tense situation. Israel is clearly the only aggressor. However, mediation is still necessary. Israel can simultaneously be held accountable for brutalizing Palestinians, while regional states can try to be realistic in terms of their impact on the ground. Ultimately, Qatar is serving a positive and productive function in this volatile situation.
Though Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu may think diplomacy is the best method of managing Israel's relationship with Qatar, Qatar is a rabidly anti-Israel and terror-supporting state that will never act in good faith. The oil-rich Gulf monarchy actively supports Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region, and thus Israel must be ready to stand up to Doha.