Qatar may step down as mediator in hostage talks between Israel and Hamas

Qatar's prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said at a press conference on Wednesday that his country is reassessing its role as a central mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas.

"Qatar is in the process of a complete re-evaluation of its role because there has been damage to Qatar," he said.

Qatar's prime minister thinks there is "misuse of this mediation for narrow political interests." He also accused "certain parties" of making "destructive statements" against Qatar.

This press conference was held a day after US Democratic congressman Steny Hoyer criticized Qatar's actions in the negotiations and called on the US to "reevaluate" its relationship with Doha.

The prime minister notes that the mediator's role has limits, as Qatar "cannot provide things that "the parties themselves refrain from offering."