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Bilateral relations exist between the Commonwealth of Australia and the state of Qatar.
In 2012, Qatar opened an embassy in Canberra, Australia and an Ambassador to Qatar and the UAE was appointed, the first time an Ambassador to Qatar has been appointed. There are 3,000 Australians in Qatar. [1] [2]
In 2016, Australia opened an embassy in Doha, Qatar. [3] The Australian ambassador to Qatar is Shane Flanagan. [4] [5]
Up to 2017, Hassad Food, which is an investment arm of the Qatar Investment Authority, had invested more than $500 million to buy prime agricultural land in Australia, to own 3,000 square kilometres, with five properties in New South Wales, one in Victoria, one in Queensland, three in South Australia and three in Western Australia.
On 2 October 2020, thirteen Australian female passengers aboard a Qatar Airways flight to Sydney from Hamad International Airport in Doha were forced to deplane before takeoff, and were subsequently strip searched and "subjected to an invasive internal examination" against their will. This was alleged prompted by the discovery of a newborn baby in an airport bathroom. [6] This evolved into a diplomatic incident between Australia and Qatar with Australian foreign minister Marise Payne stating "the treatment of the women concerned was offensive, grossly inappropriate, and beyond circumstances in which the women could give free and informed consent". [7] However, Qatar promptly and vehemently voiced its disapproval of the incident, with Qatari officials issuing multiple apologies soon after the event took place. [8] Moreover, the Federal Court of Australia ruled in favor of dismissing the case, as it determined that the searches did not occur on a Qatar Airways aircraft nor were conducted by the airline's staff. [9]
In December 2022, Football Australia reflected on a memorable FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. [10] Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, said that he would like to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Argentina, led by one of the greatest players of all time in Lionel Messi, on claiming their third FIFA World Cup crown. [11]
As of July 2023 Qatar Airways, the flag carrier airline of Qatar has services to and from Hamad International Airport in Doha to five Australian cities.
In October 2023, as the government was working towards bringing back Australians stranded in war-torn Israel back home, as a surprising ally Qatar became the first nation to offer help, Qatar’s flight QR7424 played a crucial role by providing dedicated rescue services to 222 Australians who were trying to escape Israel. [12] [13]
Furthermore, in the same month, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, HE Tim Watts, engaged in discussions regarding bilateral cooperation. The talks also covered developments in the Gaza Strip and strategies for collaborative humanitarian aid efforts in the region. Additionally, Watts expressed gratitude to Qatar for its initiatives aimed at de-escalation and safeguarding civilians. [14]
In November 2023, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Penny Wong stressed the need for coordinated regional and global diplomatic actions to secure an urgent ceasefire and permanent access through the Rafah border crossing. This is vital to maintain the steady delivery of relief supplies and humanitarian aid to the distressed Palestinian community in Gaza. Qatar's deep apprehension regarding the severe humanitarian crisis in the region was also highlighted, along with gratitude for Qatar's ongoing humanitarian initiatives in Gaza. [15]
In March 2024, Australian Ambassador HE Shane Flanagan praised Qatar for its mediation endeavors in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. [16]
In May 2024, Qatar strongly condemned the Israeli military's assaults on Rafah and called for swift international intervention to avert additional harm, safeguard civilians, and uphold global legal standards. [17] Additionally, Australia expressed solidarity with Qatar's call for a humanitarian truce to facilitate the release of captives and enable unimpeded aid delivery, while also voicing staunch disapproval of any potential ground incursion in Rafah, stated by Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. [18]
Foreign relations of Qatar is conducted through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arab states were among the first to recognize Qatar, and the country gained admittance to the United Nations and the Arab League after achieving independence in 1971. The country was an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Diplomatic missions to Qatar are based in its capital, Doha.
Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a major non-NATO ally by the United States.
A blockade has been imposed on the movement of goods and people in and out of the Gaza Strip since Hamas's takeover in 2007, led by Israel and supported by Egypt. The blockade's current stated aim is to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza; previously stated motivations have included exerting economic pressure on Hamas. Human rights groups have called the blockade illegal and a form of collective punishment, as it restricts the flow of essential goods, contributes to economic hardship, and limits Gazans' freedom of movement. The blockade and its effects have led to the territory being called an "open-air prison".
Qatar established unofficial trade relations with the State of Israel in 1996, the first amongst all nations of the Arabian Peninsula after Oman reportedly did, concurrently with Israel–Jordan peace treaty. Until 2009, Qatar and Israel maintained trade relations, but due to Operation Cast Lead, Qatar broke the trade with Israel.
Egypt–Palestine relations are the bilateral relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Palestine. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and he favored self-determination for the Palestinians. Although the Egyptian government has maintained a good relationship with Israel since the Camp David Accords, most Egyptians strongly resent Israel, and disapprove of the close relationship between the Israeli and Egyptian governments.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for handling Qatar's external relations as well as its diplomatic efforts, including the maintenance of its diplomatic missions across the globe. The current minister is Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Ismail Haniyeh is a Palestinian politician who is seen as the overall political leader of Hamas, the de facto ruling entity of the Gaza Strip. He is the current chairman of Hamas’s political bureau; as of 2023, Haniyeh lives in Qatar.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is a Qatari diplomat, economist, and politician who has been serving as the Prime Minister of Qatar since 7 March 2023 and Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2016. He has also been serving as Chairman of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) since 2014, and is a member of Qatar's Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investments (SCEAI) since 2014.
Lolwah Rashid Mohammed Al-Khater is a Qatari diplomat who is the first Qatari woman to hold the position of Spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar. Since March 2023, she has served as Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The year 2023 in Israel was defined first by wide-scale protests against a proposed judicial reform, and then by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which led to a war and to Israel invading the Gaza Strip.
The Israel–Hamas war sparked a major diplomatic crisis, with many countries around the world reacting strongly to the conflict that affected the momentum of regional relations. At least nine countries took the drastic step of recalling their ambassadors and cutting diplomatic ties with Israel. The conflict has also resulted in a renewed focus on a two-state solution to the ongoing conflict.
During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, calls for a ceasefire have been a common feature of international reactions to the conflict. Many international actors perceived an urgent need for a ceasefire due to the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the increasing death toll of civilians, primarily due to the Israeli blockade and invasion of the Gaza Strip. Notably, the leaders of some European governments that generally support Israel in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict were among the voices calling for a ceasefire, including France, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, alongside Turkey, Russia, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, among others.
Events of the year 2024 in Israel.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/22 is a resolution of the tenth emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war, "immediate and unconditional" hostage release, "ensuring humanitarian access" and that "all parties comply with their obligations under international law".
Palestine–Qatar relations refer to foreign relations between Qatar and the State of Palestine. The State of Palestine has an embassy in Doha, Qatar. Munir Abdullah Ghannam is the ambassador of Palestine to Qatar. Mohamed Al-Emadi is the ambassador of Qatar to Palestine.
On 6 May 2024, Israel began a military offensive in and around the city of Rafah as part of its invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war.
Qatar has been acting as a third-party mediator in various conflict since the 1990s. Qatar has mediated negotiations between the US and the Taliban, the signing of several peace deals for Lebanon, Yemen, Darfur, and Gaza, and hosted political offices for groups like Hamas in Doha. In addition, Qatar operated as a key mediator in various international hostage crises, leveraging its unique geopolitical standing and relationships with a wide array of actors, including both state and non-state entities.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, adopted on 25 March 2024, demands an immediate ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war during the month of Ramadan leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire. It also demands the unconditional release of all hostages. The resolution received approval from 14 members, while the United States abstained from voting.
The Israel–Hamas war has had significant effects on some major European Union member countries and institutions.
On May 5, 2024, Egyptian and Qatari mediators put forward a ceasefire proposal during the Israel–Hamas war, involving the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for a release of some Palestinian prisoners and leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities. On May 6, Hamas accepted the proposal. Israel disagreed with the proposal but said it would continue to negotiate.