From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Netanyahu: Time has come for Qatar to stop playing both sides in hostage talks
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
On his official X account, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasts Qatar, one of the three countries serving as a mediator between Israel and Hamas on hostage talks.
“Israel is fighting a just war with just means,” writes Netanyahu. “After the October 7 atrocities, Prime Minister Netanyahu defined the War of Redemption as a war between civilization and barbarism.”
“The time has come for Qatar to stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it’s on the side of civilization or if it’s on the side of Hamas barbarism. Israel will win this just war with just means.”
Anonymous Israeli officials have been telling journalists recently that Qatar is urging Hamas not to accept the terms of an Egyptian compromise deal, telling the group it should hold out for better terms.
Qatar denies the allegations.
Israel is fighting a just war with just means. After the October 7 atrocities, Prime Minister Netanyahu defined the War of Redemption as a war between civilization and barbarism.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 3, 2025
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