Gaza remains a battleground after a year, and Qatar finds itself in a unique and precarious position - both ally and mediator to conflicting powers in the region. With ties to Hamas, Israel, and the United States, Doha continues to navigate the region's most dangerous fault lines, playing a critical role in talks aimed at preventing further escalation, say observers who have been following the process over the past 12 months.

Qatar's rise as a mediator didn't happen overnight. It began when Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani took power in 1995, followed by the launch of Al Jazeera, which gave the small Gulf state an outsized influence. But it was diplomacy, not media, that solidified Qatar's reputation as an indispensable player in regional conflicts.

"Qatar learned early that engaging with all sides - whether in conflict or diplomacy - was essential for its long-term survival and relevance," said Dr. Mehran Kamrava, a professor at Georgetown University's campus in Qatar.

Since 2018, Qatar has sent billions of dollars in aid to Gaza, supporting civil services and salaries under Hamas. Israel, aware of these payments, allowed them as part of an uneasy arrangement to maintain stability in Gaza.

But after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, this relationship became more complicated. Israel has since questioned Qatar's ongoing financial support, especially after the discovery of Hamas tunnels that evaded Egyptian and Israeli detection.

Qatar's role

While some aspects of Qatar's involvement have been the subject of scrutiny and have by some accounts stalled, its role remains indispensable.

"While the landscape has shifted significantly, Qatar remains an essential mediator," said Taufiq Rahim, a senior fellow at New America. "Their unique position allows them to communicate with all parties, including Hamas, and both the U.S. and Israel rely on that channel."

FILE - Qatari diplomats work inside an operation room set up to coordinate the truce and release of hostages between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at the National Command Centre in Doha, Nov. 26, 2023.

Qatar's efforts have also improved relations with Egypt. The two countries had been at odds since the 2013 ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo, but the Gaza conflict brought them closer.

"Egypt understands Qatar's value as a mediator, particularly given Doha's ties to Hamas and the U.S.," said Dr. Said Sadek, a political sociologist at Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology. The two countries now coordinate on cease-fire negotiations, reflecting how Qatar's mediation extends beyond just Israel and Hamas.

Qatar's approach to mediation is part of a broader strategy that prioritizes dialogue over confrontation.

"For over two decades, Qatar has mediated international conflicts," a Qatari official said. "In that time, we have earned the trust of our allies as a neutral broker, facilitating dialogue, easing tensions, and promoting peaceful resolutions. We believe firmly that mediation is the only path to building trust between conflicting parties. Violence is never the answer."

In addition to diplomacy, Qatar has provided significant humanitarian aid to Gaza. Between 2012 and 2021, it allocated $1.49 billion in aid, including food, medicine, and electricity, coordinated with Israel, the U.S., and the U.N., a government official told VOA.

This aid aimed to reduce shortages in Gaza resulting from what was then Israel's partial blockade and to support civil services, with monthly payments to 100,000 families and funding for teachers and doctors to help stabilize the region's infrastructure.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is welcomed by Qatari officials upon his arrival at Doha's airport, in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 2, 2024. (Iran's Presidency/WANA/Handout via Reuters)

Qatar is acutely aware of its regional stakes, especially with the South Pars/North Dome, its shared gas field with Iran. The potential for a broader conflict involving Iran is a constant concern. Israeli strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon have raised fears of an escalation that could threaten Qatar's economic lifeline.

"Qatar has much at risk, particularly as the conflict deepens in Lebanon, and it will keep pressing for de-escalation efforts with all sides," Rahim emphasized.

Complexities growing

The regional dynamics grew more tense following Israel's assassination last month of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. His killing in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut further strained the fragile balance Qatar tries to maintain as a mediator.

This act came just weeks after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran that has been blamed on Israel. Haniyeh's funeral in Doha in August drew officials from Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia, and the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasizing Doha's central role in the complex alliances of the region.

FILE - People attend the mourning house for assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar, Aug. 2, 2024.

Haniyeh's killing, along with Nasrallah's, underscores the challenges Qatar faces as it continues its mediation efforts. Israel's reliance on Qatar to mediate with Hamas while simultaneously questioning its motives highlights this delicate balance.

Gershon Baskin, a veteran Israeli mediator in negotiations with the Palestinians, noted that Israel has long depended on Qatar's involvement, despite its suspicions. "Israel knew about Qatar's financial involvement with Hamas and allowed it to happen because it provided a buffer, a way to maintain order in Gaza while containing Hamas," Baskin said.

Despite these efforts, skepticism persists. Mouin Rabbani, a senior fellow at Doha's Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, has criticized the broader mediation process, calling it a "U.S.-Israeli charade" designed to stall, rather than resolve, the conflict. "Hamas, along with most others, has come to the conclusion that these negotiations aren't about ending the war."

This skepticism resonates across the region, but Qatar continues to position itself as a key player in Middle East diplomacy. In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly recently, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani described the conflict in Gaza as a 'genocidal war' and called for an immediate cease-fire. He underscored Qatar's commitment to mediation, framing it as both a strategic policy and a humanitarian duty aimed at securing lasting peace.

Qatar's strategic importance is further reinforced by its hosting of Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the region, and the presence of six major U.S. universities at Doha's Education City. These institutions serve as pillars of Qatar's global engagement and embody its role as a full U.S. partner in the region.

As Qatar juggles its relationships with Hamas, Israel, the U.S., and Iran, its balancing act grows more precarious. But as Kamrava pointed out, "Qatar's ability to mediate in the region is not just a matter of diplomatic convenience - it's a matter of survival."