World Leaders Turn to Qatar to Negotiate Release of Israel-Hamas War Hostages

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit during the Cairo international summit for peace held in Egypt, Oct. 21, 2023

PARIS, FRANCE — World leaders and political experts have lauded the key role played by Qatar that led to the release of two American hostages that were held by Hamas militants.

French President Emmanuel Macron was among the global leaders that applauded the state of Qatar for the role played that led to the release of the hostages seized by the militant group.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Macron expressed confidence that more hostages will be released.

"This is a very good outcome obtained by the negotiators, in which Qatar played a very important role," he said.

"We are confident: the channels we have are the right ones and are useful," Macron added.

Western leaders are increasingly using Qatar's influence as a key global investor, in such situations — developments showcased after the gas-rich Gulf Arab state played a crucial role in the release of five U.S. citizens by Iran last month.

Etienne Dignat, an expert on hostage situations said Qatar is a "specialist in the release of hostages."

"Qatar plays a double game: it maintains both relations with terrorist groups and certain Western nations which are indebted to it," he added.

Other heavyweights in the region are simultaneously trying to intervene.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said President Recep Erdogan has received "requests from several countries" to help.

Erdogan has in recent months sought to warm relations with Israel which have suffered in the last years after a string of bitter disputes. But these risks having the consequence that Ankara is trusted by neither side.

Egypt, another key player, helped secure the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who until 2011 had been held by Hamas for over five years.

Hasni Abidi, the director of the Geneva-based Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World, CERMAM said Qatar is the "most accommodating mediator."

"It knows Hamas well and is its loyal financial backer," Abidi said, referring to Doha's financing of the salaries of civil servants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

Abidi said all potential actors are "only those who have established long-standing relationships with Hamas and therefore the only ones authorized to make contact with its leaders."

But in this case, the unprecedented number of hostages held and the number of nationalities represented among them means that there will be no single solution and the diplomacy is likely to be painstaking.

"There will be no collective negotiation," said Abidi.

"Each state will be called upon to negotiate the release of its own hostages," he added.