Hoyer Statement Urging Qatar to Apply Pressure on Hamas to Accept Reasonable Hostage Release and Temporary Ceasefire 

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today on Hamas' absurd and unfeasible proposal for hostage release and temporary ceasefire and urging for Qatar to apply pressure on Hamas to accept a reasonable deal:

“Today, Hamas leaders countered yet another meaningful proposal for a hostage release and temporary ceasefire with absurd demands and unfeasible requirements. As Hamas has done so many times since launching its depraved terror attack on Israel on October 7, the terrorist organization demonstrates once again that it has no interest in creating or allowing peace or in returning the remaining Israeli hostages. Instead, Hamas prolongs the suffering of innocent Palestinian civilians, using their anguish as leverage in negotiations. 

“Negotiators have spent considerable time and energy to forge these proposed agreements. Although Israel has said it would accept these proposals, Hamas has either rejected them or returned to the table with outrageous demands time and time again. Hamas has also sought to use its intermediary Qatar – which has long helped finance, back, and house the terrorist organization – to exact greater concessions from Israel. Instead, Qatar needs to make it clear to Hamas that there will be repercussions if it continues to block progress toward releasing the hostages and establishing a temporary ceasefire. Consequences ought to include cutting off funding to Hamas or refusing to grant Hamas' leaders refuge in Doha. If Qatar fails to apply this pressure, the United States must reevaluate its relationship with Qatar.

“Every time Hamas rejects one of these proposed deals, it prolongs this war, exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and further destabilizes the region. Hamas' conduct is especially dangerous in the wake of Iranian efforts to escalate and broaden this war in the past 48 hours. If we are to return the hostages and lay the foundation for peace, we must make it clear that Hamas' intransigence is untenable.”