Doha: Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says the occupation in Palestine rejected an early proposal to release all civilian hostages held by Hamas, refusing even to consider a ceasefire window for their departure.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored in an interview aired on September 29, he said Doha approached the occupation's officials on the first day of the Gaza war after securing an agreement for the civilians’ release.
Qatar asked the occupation to temporarily halt fighting so the hostages could be brought out. Occupation officials instead insisted Hamas release them without any accompanying action.
“They even rejected to entertain the idea,” he said.
The ceasefire condition is central to his description: the proposal involved a pause to facilitate the release, rather than an unconditional handover.
Sheikh Mohammed condemned the October 7 2023 attack, but it could not justify the occupation's subsequent killing of Palestinians and attacks on hospitals and schools.
His account adds a mediator’s perspective to questions about decisions made at the war’s outset. Qatar later helped negotiate ceasefires and hostage releases, maintaining communication channels between parties that would not negotiate directly.
He also criticised continuing violations of the October 2025 ceasefire by the occupation. Qatar says that military action has repeatedly undermined diplomatic efforts.
