Qatar 're-evaluating' role as mediator between Israel and Hamas

Qatar's prime minister has said the Gulf state is re-evaluating its role as mediator between Israel and Hamas, adding that Doha's efforts to secure a ceasefire and prisoner release deal were being undermined by politicians with "narrow interests".

Speaking on Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he "lamented the political exploitation" of Doha's diplomacy by some politicians who were "marketing their electoral campaigns through the defamation of Qatar's role".

Whilst Sheikh Mohammed did not name the politicians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly criticised Qatar and recently threatened to shut down the local operations of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.

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