Qatar suspended its role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas on Saturday as airstrikes continued in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, saying neither side wanted to negotiate in “good faith”.

The emirate has hosted Hamas’ political leadership since 2012 and has been trying to bring both sides to the table since the October 7 attacks last year.

“The Qataris have informed both the Israelis and Hamas that they cannot continue to mediate as long as they refuse to negotiate a deal in good faith,” a diplomatic source told AFP. he said.

“The Qataris conveyed to the US administration that they would be ready to resume mediation when both sides show a sincere desire to return to the negotiating table,” the source said.

It is unclear what consequences this will have for Hamas’s political office in Doha, Qatar’s capital.

“We have not received any request to leave Qatar,” a senior Hamas official in Doha told AFP.

In response, Qatar’s foreign ministry said the reports were untrue but that mediation talks between the two sides were “currently on hold.”

A ministry spokesman added that ceasefire talks would continue “once there is sufficient seriousness to end this brutal war,” according to Reuters.

Israeli bombardment kills 44 people in Gaza

Palestinian health officials announced that 44 people died in Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip on Friday and Saturday.

Among those mourning over the weekend was Mohammed Zanoun, who said he was a relative of the children killed in an Israeli rocket attack on Friday.

“It’s just the kids who were killed yesterday.”

He said the kids were getting ready to play football.

Four people died in eastern Gaza City during strikes on Friday night and Saturday morning; four of them were in a house in Beit Lahiya, two in a tent at Al Aqsa hospital in Deir Al Balah, and four in a tent in Abassan. Paramedics said he was near Khan Younis.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment about attacks on areas housing displaced people.

The United Nations Human Rights Office’s claims against Israel that 70 percent of the 43,500 people killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 were women and children were denied.

He has previously said that Hamas fighters hide among civilians and shoot them on sight. Hamas denies hiding among civilians.

The Israeli army intensified its attacks in the Gaza Strip, claiming that Hamas was trying to regroup in the north of the region.

Israel launched its offensive in response to an October 7, 2023 attack in which Hamas gunmen attacked border defenses and attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and taking nearly 250 hostage, according to Israeli records.

At least 20 people died in Israeli attacks in Lebanon

The Israeli army is waging a two-front war, with soldiers fighting against both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In the statement made by the army, it was said: “The other day, the Israeli Air Force hit more than 50 terrorist targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.”

“Targets hit included military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers.”

Lebanon’s health ministry said 31 people were killed and 14 injured in Saturday’s attacks, according to Reuters.

Seven people were killed and 46 others were injured in Israeli attacks on the city of Tire on the Lebanese coast on Friday, according to the country’s health ministry.

It was stated that there were two children among the dead.

At least 16 people lost their lives in Israeli attacks in the city of Baalbek on Saturday.

The Israeli army said in a statement that it targeted “Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure” in both Baalbek and Tire.

Air sirens were activated in central Israel on Saturday following reports that enemy aircraft had infiltrated the airspace.

Reuters/AFP