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Doha: Qatar announced that it is preparing for the second phase of negotiations for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, noting that these negotiations “may begin any day.”
Al Jazeera has reported that the Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari said in a statement to the American Fox News channel, “We are preparing for the second phase of negotiations, which is scheduled to begin any day.” “We hope that the second phase will lead to reconstruction and sustainable peace in the region,” he added.
He also stressed that the momentum created through the implementation of the first phase of the agreement must be built upon, praising the role of US President Donald Trump in reaching the agreement, saying, “Had it not been for President Trump’s firmness and decisions before taking office, we would not have reached the agreement.”
Notably, Qatar was a major mediator in the negotiations that led to the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange in the Gaza Strip. The agreement came into effect on January 19 and consists of three stages, each lasting 42 days. In the first stage, negotiations are held to start the second and third stages, with Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediation.