In a big blow to Israel-Hamas ceasefire attempts, Qatar has backed down from its ceasefire mediation in Gaza. Qatar said that it will stall efforts to mediate a ceasefire until Israel & Hamas show "willingness and seriousness" to resume talks. However, there was no official response from Hamas or Israel to the statement given by the Qatar Foreign Ministry. The latest round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal. Israel on several occasions rejected ceasefire or temporary ceasefire proposals for a longer truce. Notably, the Gulf country has been working alongside the US, and Egypt for months on fruitless talks between the warring sides in Gaza. Notably, Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as part of a deal with the US, and the group`s presence there has facilitated the progress of talks. The country hosts the largest US airbase in the Middle East but also allows Hamas and Afghanistan`s Taliban to operate offices in Doha. It is unclear how many Hamas officials live in Doha, but they include several possible replacements for killed Hamas Chief Sinwar. The group`s previous leader Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran in July was also based in Doha and his body was flown to Qatar for burial.