An Israeli strike in Gaza City
Israel-Hamas war clouds energy prospects
The threat of a big disruption to energy trade in the Middle East appears to be receding, but the fog of war is casting doubt on projects in the region
The war in Gaza may still escalate beyond the borders of Israel and the Palestinian territories and cause major energy disruptions, but the likelihood of this appeared to have receded by early December as a ceasefire came and went and hostilities remained largely constrained to the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas. Instead, experts say, different tracks of negotiations are picking up, with the entire Middle East in flux and Qatar’s status in particular elevated—as both an energy powerhouse and a geopolitical deal maker. Global oil and gas prices spiked immediately after the surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October, which claimed more than 1,200 Israeli lives and disrupted regional energy trade.
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
