Last night, distinguished guests and parliamentarians gathered in the graceful setting of Committee Room 3 in the House of Lords for a discussion on the roles played by Qatar and Egypt in the quest for Middle East peace.
Suzanne Evans, renowned campaigner and event Chairman, extended a warm welcome: “My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining us in this beautiful room, and many thanks to our gracious hosts Lord Jackson of Peterborough and Andrew Rosindell MP for sponsoring our talk.” After a few essential housekeeping reminders, it was down to business.
Evans began, “Thank you for gathering here to talk about the role of Qatar and Egypt in the Middle East peace process.” She set the tone by highlighting a rare glimmer of hope in a region often described by conflict and uncertainty. Recent months have witnessed complex negotiations, ceasefire talks, and humanitarian agreements, thrusting Egypt and Qatar into the spotlight as pivotal mediators—both leveraging diplomatic clout and deep regional ties.
Attention turned first to Egypt, whose legacy as a bridge between the Arab world and Israel remains important, not least du the shared border. The 1979 peace treaty set the scene for Cairo’s enduring work as a conduit for dialogue, especially in the latest Gaza crises. Egyptian intelligence and diplomats, often working behind the scenes, helped broker fragile ceasefires and facilitate the vital flow of humanitarian aid. In the midst of continued violence, Egypt’s ability to open the Rafah crossing and use trusted channels has ensured that critical aid reaches those most in need.
Qatar’s contribution came under equal praise. Renowned for its economic strength and unique regional relationships, Qatar has emerged as an essential interlocutor, particularly with groups like Hamas. Often publicly shunned by Western nations, those attending heard how the presence of Hamas in the emirate was done with the full support of both the US and UK Governments, as Matthew Miller, a US State Department spokesperson said in 2023: “We believe that Qatar has played an – has played a very useful role in this conflict in a number of cases, most importantly securing the release of the two American hostages that were released last Friday. Qatar continues to engage productively on this question with entities in the region. The Secretary has publicly thanked them for that role, and we hope it will continue.”
The talk also heard that Qatar’s role is strong because of its financial support for humanitarian projects, willingness to facilitate prisoner and hostage exchanges, and diplomatic finesse have fostered breakthroughs when stalemates seemed inevitable. Qatar’s approach is rooted not just in resources, but also in cultivating dialogue across divides—delivering tangible relief to suffering communities.
Evans noted, “It is reported that both Egypt and Qatar share a common approach: engagement with all sides, a pragmatic recognition of the region’s realities, and a relentless, often thankless pursuit of practical solutions.” If correct, then their efforts must underline a central truth: regional actors, with a deep understanding of local dynamics, need to make progress when distant powers falter.
Challenges remain, of course. Neither Egypt nor Qatar can impose a lasting solution, and repeated setbacks and accusations of bias are a reality. But when communications break down, and violence risks spiraling, it is often these two nations who step up for urgent mediation—an effort recognised at the highest levels, including by US and UK leaders.
Evans concluded her remarks saying: “If we are truly committed to peace in the Middle East, we must support all those who genuinely share our values, including regional players alongside other international actors, the US, UK, and EU. So long as those who want to bring about an end to the violence can remain talking, hope endures for a better future.”
Attendees were then treated to insights, from the panel. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon drew on a wealth of experiences and a distinguished record as FCDO Minister of State for the Middle East. He talked about the work of Qatar and Egypt, their pivotal role in trying to find peace, but also of the Turkey. He underlined the importance of the Abraham Accords and the desire of both regional players, the US and UK to find a long term solution which satisfied all sides, adding that, while much of the talk had been focused on Gaza, “we must not forget the West Bank”.
Highly respected journalist Sam Merriman from Parliament’s press lobby, provided an insight into the thinking in Government and tensions between trying to keep all the parties who want peace around the negotiating table, while Alistair Thompson, editor of parliamentnews.co.uk added that role of regional players such as Qatar and Egypt was vital as without negotiations there would never be peace in the Middle East, referencing a number of conflicts where a misguided “military only” solution had failed and had only prolonged war.
The evening concluded with an upbeat assessment from Lord Ahmad, reiterated the importance of the Abraham Accords and all countries in the region working together to secure, stability and a peace that worked for all parties.
House of Lords talk highlights Qatar and Egypt’s Crucial Role in Middle East Peace for parliamentnews
