“We need Qatar on our side, and not on Hamas’ side,” said Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv were captured by the militant group from the Kibbutz Kfar Aza, as part of the wave of deadly attacks that rocked Israel on October 7. “We need Qatar on Western civilization’s side, and on Israel’s side.”
Qatar has served as a key arbitrator on a deal proposed by Israel that would free all remaining captives held in Gaza and temporarily halt hostilities for up to two months — the longest period of cease-fire offered to Hamas since the start of the war.
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron is in the gulf state today for further talks with senior members of the regime.
Before he departed Wednesday, Cameron — along with his boss, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — met with hostage family members who had flown into London to press Britain to use its long-standing ties with Qatar to make sure a deal happens.
Berman told POLITICO that Sunak “needs to do more.”
“I thanked him and I urged him, begged him, to keep the pressure up and to keep the hostages as the first and foremost priority,” he added.