PM Sheikh Mohammed says inclusive engagement is essential to resolving crises from Afghanistan to Gaza
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speaks at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum during a session moderated by US journalist Tucker Carlson. Photo: X
DOHA:
In a region grappling with conflicts from Afghanistan to Gaza, Qatar on Sunday pushed for inclusive political engagement, even with non-state actors, as the only realistic path to lasting stability.
Speaking at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said that durable peace requires direct communication with all parties to a conflict, including armed groups often shunned by Western capitals.
In a session moderated by US journalist Tucker Carlson, Sheikh Mohammed said regional crises, whether in Afghanistan, Palestine, or beyond, cannot be resolved by excluding key actors on the ground. “You cannot resolve or reach a solution if you have no one speaking to non-state actors,” he said.
Qatar is one of the mediators trying to seek a rapprochement between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime. Sheikh Mohammed noted that Qatar’s long-standing approach to mediation has been shaped by this principle, which has underpinned its involvement in negotiations from the Afghan peace process to repeated ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
He explained that Qatar’s relationship with Hamas began more than a decade ago at the request of the United States, which wanted a reliable communication channel with the Palestinian group. “When they moved their office back in 2012 here, it was used only for communication and to facilitate ceasefires and aid to Gaza,” he said.
Similarly, he continued, the Taliban’s political office in Doha, established in 2013, was also opened at Washington’s request during the group’s war with the US and the former Afghan government.
Qatar hosted years of Afghan peace talks, which eventually paved the way for the Doha Agreement and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. These experiences, Sheikh Mohammed argued, demonstrate the necessity of having a neutral platform for engagement with actors who “hold real influence on the ground.”
Responding to allegations that Qatari funds intended for humanitarian relief in Gaza had been diverted to Hamas, the prime minister was emphatic: “All our aid, financing, and all our support went to the people in Gaza, and it was a very transparent process that the United States is very aware of.”
He said Israel itself had facilitated the distribution of funds and humanitarian assistance into the besieged enclave. He criticised political actors who, he claimed, were distorting Qatar’s role for domestic gain. “Politicians are trying to use this for short-term political gains to fuel their narratives,” he said.
He emphasised that Qatar’s mediation has delivered tangible results, including multiple ceasefires, humanitarian pauses, hostage releases, and evacuation arrangements.
This Doha Forum brought together over 5,000 delegates from 162 countries, including presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, global policy experts, and heads of international organisations. The event, one of the Middle East’s most influential policy platforms, explored conflict resolution, humanitarian crises, global governance, and economic instability.
The prime minister also spoke about the Israeli strike on Qatari territory in September, describing it as a blatant breach of diplomatic norms and the principles of mediation. “The mediator being bombed by one of the parties – this has been unprecedented,” he said. “It was an unethical move.”
Sheikh Mohammed revealed that US President Donald Trump had reacted with surprise and frustration upon learning about the Israeli actions. “President Trump expressed his frustration, his disappointment, because he knows everything about the process and how helpful we were throughout,” he said.
Commenting on Gaza’s devastation following Israel’s two-year military campaign, he reiterated Qatar’s commitment to humanitarian support but said the burden of reconstruction must fall on the responsible party. “We will do whatever to alleviate their suffering,” he said. “But we will not write the cheque for what others destroyed.”
He criticised the international community for what he described as a “double standard,” comparing calls for Russia to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction to the reluctance of many countries to hold Israel accountable for rebuilding Gaza.
According to UN estimates, 92% of Gaza’s residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed, generating up to 60 million tonnes of rubble. Experts believe the reconstruction could take decades.
Sheikh Mohammed strongly opposed any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza. “They have the choice where to go, and they don’t want to leave their country,” he said. “I don’t see anyone has the right to deport them or to force them to go somewhere else.”
He stressed that Palestinians should not be treated as a people who can be “reshuffled or relocated” at the convenience of regional powers.
