German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday thanked Qatar’s emir for his country’s mediation efforts to secure the release of hostages and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza war.
During the conversation with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Meseberg Palace near Berlin, Scholz expressed hope that the death of Hamas leader Yehya al-Sinwar would open the possibility of such an agreement, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.
“Both agreed that lasting peace will require greater diplomatic efforts,” Hebestreit added.
In this context, the Israeli-Palestinian relationship is of particular importance, he said. Both agreed that a political process towards a two-state solution must be initiated.
The emir visited Germany for the second time last year.
Meetings at Meseberg Palace are considered a special honor, as Scholz rarely receives visitors from abroad there. French President Emmanuel Macron was recently a guest at the palace.
Scholz’s government has attempted to work with Qatar to allow the deportation of Afghan citizens from Germany back to Afghanistan.
In August, 28 criminals were taken from Leipzig to Kabul on a Qatar Airways plane. The German government itself has no official contacts with the hardline Islamic Taliban regime in Afghanistan and is therefore dependent on assistance with deportations.
Qatar, meanwhile, maintains good relations with the Taliban.
Hebestreit did not comment on whether Qatar would continue to help Germany deport Afghan criminals.
Qatar also has close ties with the Palestinian militant Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the allied Lebanese Hezbollah militia, both of which are engaged in wars with Israel, Germany’s close ally.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are considered terrorist organizations by the European Union.
The wealthy Gulf emirate is considered a key mediator in the Middle East conflicts involving Israel due to its ties to both groups.
Qatar, which has huge gas reserves, is also interested in investing in Germany and exporting liquefied natural gas to the country.
