Rhino: Qatar has informed the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel that it will suspend its efforts to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release until there is “the necessary seriousness” to resume talks, Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has mediated for months in fruitless rounds of talks between the two sides to reach a ceasefire in the year-long war in Gaza. Suspending its endeavors in this process would further complicate efforts to reach an agreement.

The ministry also said that press reports about the future of Hamas’ political bureau in Doha were inaccurate, without providing details. On Friday, Reuters quoted a US official as saying that Washington had asked Qatar to close the Hamas office and that Doha had conveyed this message to Hamas.

An official familiar with the matter said Qatar had concluded that the Hamas political office in Doha “no longer serves its purpose” as mediation efforts ceased.