Majid Al-Ansari, the spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, denounced the comments as "irresponsible and destructive to the efforts to save innocent lives."

"If the reported remarks are found to be true, the israeli PM would only be obstructing and undermining the mediation process, for narrow political reasons," Al-Ansari added.

He urged Netanyahu to focus on the release of hostages instead of concerning himself with Qatar's strategic relations with the United States. The criticism from Qatar comes after Netanyahu criticized Qatar, stating that its "mediation role in the exchange deal with Hamas constitutes a problem."

Israeli Channel 12 reportedly leaked a recording of Netanyahu from a meeting with hostages' families, where he mentioned that Qatar is more problematic than the United Nations and the Red Cross in the context of the exchange deal.

The ongoing tension between Qatar and Israel adds complexity to the regional dynamics, as efforts for mediation and dialogue continue amidst the broader challenges in the Middle East. (ILKHA)