In a private meeting organized by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump last Wednesday in New York, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed his country’s efforts to release hostages in Gaza, according to the U.S.-based media source Axios.
A bipartisan group of prominent figures–primarily comprised of ultra-wealthy, Jewish business leaders–attended this meeting discussing Qatar’s role in mediating between Israel and Hamas.
Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani highlighted his nation’s historical ties with Hamas–dating back to 2006–and shared insights on negotiations and coordination with the Israeli government regarding financial assistance to Gaza. Attendees included Bill Ackman, Barry Sternlicht, Mark Rowan, and Robert Kraft.
Sheikh Mohammed had also served as the Trump and Biden administrations’ primary liaison of contact in Afghanistan for several years, as Qatar hosted a Taliban office.
As the Biden administration and Israel appreciate Qatar’s mediation, scrutiny over its relationship with Hamas is increasing.
Qatar faces lobbying efforts in Washington amid concerns that support for Hamas could impact its standing in the U.S. Sheikh Mohammed addressed these concerns during the meeting, emphasizing Qatar’s nuanced role in Gaza.
Participants left with varying perspectives, as some were impressed by the prime minister’s openness, while others expressed skepticism about Qatar’s future actions regarding Hamas in the post-war environment.
Notably, after leaving the Trump administration, Jared Kushner established a private equity fund, which received a $200 million investment from a Qatari company.
The dynamics of this meeting shed light on the complex geopolitical relationships involving Qatar, Israel, and Hamas, with ongoing discussions about Qatar’s role and potential future actions regarding the group.
Qatar’s prime minister–along with the foreign ministers from several other Arab states–had been in New York to address a UN Security Council meeting on the Gaza issue.