When Israel bombed Doha in early September, it nearly collapsed the Gaza peace process. The Qataris, who were serving as the main mediators between Israel and Hamas, threatened to withdraw from negotiations, a senior White House official told Politico. However, the moment proved to be a flashpoint. A quick intervention by US president Donald Trump, including a phone call that linked Netanyahu to Qatar’s prime minister, helped salvage the talks and paved the way for the first major ceasefire in two years. According to two Palestinian officials quoted by Reuters, a private call in September made Hamas believe that Trump could actually deliver on peace. The moment came when Trump, hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, put Netanyahu on the phone with Qatar’s

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