Another important question raised at Tuesday’s hearings by the California congresswoman Michelle Steel regarded the effects of Qatar’s massive contributions to American universities. The peninsular emirate also hosts and funds Hamas, along with the anti-Semitic and anti-American propaganda outlet Al Jazeera—despite having the coveted status of major non-NATO ally. While U.S. officials have thanked Doha for its role in negotiating the release of some of the hostages abducted on October 7, Jonathan Schanzer notes that they should instead be pressuring Qatar to force Hamas to release the rest:

These American statements are cringe-inducing: . . . when America thanks Qatar for its assistance, it’s a bit like thanking the thug who punched you in eye for bringing you an ice pack. But it’s worse than that. In their efforts to steer the Gaza conflict toward a permanent ceasefire, the Qataris have actively tried to help save Hamas from destruction, which is Israel’s stated war aim.

In addition to Hamas, the terrorists running around in Qatar include al-Qaeda, Islamic State, the Taliban, and others. Famously, the Qataris sheltered the 9/11 mastermind Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, and likely alerted him to the fact that American forces were closing on him, enabling his escape. Despite this track record, the United States has continued to work with the Qataris as partners. . . . As the former Israeli national security advisor Eyal Hulata recently revealed, the Qataris have sent funds surreptitiously to Hamas fighters.

The mask has fallen. The Qataris are terror sponsors, not stewards of Gaza.

Yesterday, the Iranian foreign minister flew to Geneva to meet with European diplomats. President Trump, meanwhile, indicated that cease-fire negotiations might soon begin with Iran, which would presumably involve Tehran agreeing to make concessions regarding its nuclear program, while Washington pressures Israel to halt its military activities. According to Israeli media, Iran already began putting out feelers to the U.S. earlier this week. Aviram Bellaishe considers the purpose of these overtures:

The regime’s request to return to negotiations stems from the principle of deception and delay that has guided it for decades. Iran wants to extricate itself from a situation of total destruction of its nuclear facilities. It understands that to save the nuclear program, it must stop at a point that would allow it to return to it in the shortest possible time. So long as the negotiation process leads to halting strikes on its military capabilities and preventing the destruction of the nuclear program, and enables the transfer of enriched uranium to a safe location, it can simultaneously create the two tracks in which it specializes—a false facade of negotiations alongside a hidden nuclear race.