Qatar

Qatar’s role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas since Oct. 7 has given its standing a boost. That initially frustrated some of Doha’s Gulf Arab neighbors. But as the war continued, Gulf countries came to see some benefits, leading to coordination among them. As a result, the war has become a milestone in intra-Gulf relations.

Bahrain and Qatar announced last week that they will restore diplomatic relations after more than five years of estrangement, marking the final major milestone in the normalization of ties among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to which both belong. But despite the thaw, a lack of trust is likely to persist.