Qatar has accused Benjamin Netanyahu of being “irresponsible and destructive”, saying leaked remarks by the Israeli prime minister criticising the Gulf state risked undermining efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Doha, which has been leading the diplomacy to broker a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, was reacting to a recording of a meeting between Netanyahu and relatives of Israeli hostages aired on Israel’s Channel 12 this week. The long-serving prime minister can be heard calling Qatar a “problematic” intermediary and urging the families to increase international pressure on Doha.

“You don’t hear me thanking Qatar. Have you noticed? I don’t thank Qatar. Why? Because for me, Qatar is essentially no different from the UN, it is essentially no different from the Red Cross and in a way it is even?.?.?.?more problematic,” Netanyahu said. “But I’m ready to use any actor right now that helps me bring [the hostages] home. I have no illusions about them.”