Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and US Secretary of State H E Antony Blinken address a joint press conference in Doha yesterday. Pic: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said Qatar believes that the Gaza crisis must be contained as soon as possible and a ceasefire must be reached, which would also address the threats to the rest of the countries of the region.
Addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary of State H E Antony Blinken in Doha yesterday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “During our meeting today, we touched on the most prominent ongoing developments in the region, most notably the war that has been ongoing for three months in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, with all its political, security and humanitarian dimensions.
“During our meeting, we stressed the importance of pressure to stop the fighting and lift restrictions imposed on humanitarian aid as this is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”
He added: “We also touched on the most prominent developments in the negotiations to release prisoners and detainees and ways to reach a serious humanitarian truce that would stop killing of innocent civilians and alleviate their sufferings.”
He said they discussed efforts to prevent the expansion of the conflict and the dangerous developments taking place currently in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and the Red Sea, and their repercussions on the security and stability of the region.
To a question, the PM said: “From the beginning, we always warn that the acceleration of the conflict is a very real possibility and a danger to the region where we live. Our joint efforts are focused on stopping this war to prevent this expansion from getting bigger.”
He said Qatar always seeks, through communication channels with all parties, to achieve calm, and works closely with its partners including the US for deescalation. “As I mentioned previously, the key to this issue, we see is achieving calm in the Gaza Strip and stop this war, and thus let us see what positive repercussions it will have. “From the day one, Qatari efforts were to communicate closely with all regional and international partners, including the UN and the US to reduce the escalation, stop the bloodshed, and address humanitarian issues, including the release of prisoners, and the delivery of urgent aid.”
He said to date, more than 280 injured patients have been evacuated to Doha from the Gaza Strip.
“As many as 59 planes carrying 1,850 tonnes of humanitarian aid including supplies and foodstuff have been sent to support the brotherly Palestinian people.” The PM said: “I have had numerous meetings with my colleague Blinken since the events of October 7, and we have emphasised from day one the importance of an immediate ceasefire to stop bloodshed, protect civilians and prevent the expansion of this conflict.”
But unfortunately, he said, despite all international efforts and regional calm, after three months of these confrontations, the war in Gaza is still continuing at an escalating pace.
“So far, it has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians and caused 58,000 injuries, and these numbers are constantly rising, and without an immediate ceasefire being reached, these numbers will increase over the days.”
He added, “It is painful that we have reached a stage where we have become accustomed to images of destruction, killing, and scenes of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, and the transformation of children, women, and civilians into mere numbers of victims.
"This is a real test for humanity, and we must not surrender to the normalisation of this scene. Hospitals are still being targeted, schools are still being bombed, and displaced people are still being killed.
“The threat of displacement is real and present, and there is a real threat to transfer Palestinians. This is confirmed by the provocative statements made by some extremist ministers in the Israeli government, which we condemn in the strongest terms.
"Despite the importance of searching for sustainable solutions for peace in the region, the focus must now be on stopping the fighting, and emphasising that the Gaza Strip is part of the occupied Palestinian territory that must be under Palestinian rule and leadership, and only the Palestinian people have the right to decide in it; and emphasising that there is no peace in the region without a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions."
He said there is no peace in the region without a comprehensive and just settlement in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.
“Of course, we highly value our relations with the US. We value this partnership, ongoing cooperation and consultations between us, and we thank you for your continued support in our efforts to reach a truce, and to release prisoners and detainees.”
Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said: “The negotiations are ongoing. We have gone through challenges, ups and downs throughout the process. And of course having one of the senior leaders of Hamas being killed is something which can affect such a complicated process. Yet, we are not giving up, we are moving, continuing our discussions with the parties and trying to achieve as soon as possible an agreement that can bring a ceasefire, humanitarian relief and release of hostages.”
To another question, he said Qatar’s position is very clear on protecting the freedom of navigation and what’s happening in the Red Sea is something not acceptable. “This is unfortunately one of the effects of what’s happening right now in Gaza and we believe that it’s more important to focus our efforts to reach a solution to the situation over there. I think form Qatar’s prospective, we never see a military action as a solution.”
Addressing the press conference, Blinken said for the US from the day one among other priorities was preventing conflict from spreading. “It was at the heart of discussion during my fourth visit to the region in last three months. We have shared commitment to avoid escalation.”
He said Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea direct hurt commercial interests of 40 countries and affected 20 percent of global shipping. He said the attacks were hurting people around the world, especially the poor, therefore 20 countries came together to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea.
“In all my meetings in the last two days, we discussed ongoing efforts to better protect civilians in Gaza and get more humanitarian assistance to them and get remaining hostages to their homes.”
He thanked Qatari leadership’s tireless efforts for previous negotiations which led to the release of over 100 hostages including the US citizens.
Blinken said aid going to Gaza is insufficient for massive needs. “We continue to raise with Israel the need to do everything possible to take humanitarian aid to Gaza. We will ask Israel to do more to prevent civilian causalities as many innocent Palestinians have already been killed.”
He lauded the role of UN agencies particularly UN Food Programme. “Experts told me that over 90 percent population in Gaza is facing acute food insecurity; going days and nights without anything to eat that is causing lifelong irreversible harm to children.”
He said as Israel was moving to low intensity phase in Northern Gaza, UN should see what needs to be done to allow displaced Palestinians to move back to their homes in Northern Gaza. “They must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow them.
“They must not be pressed to leave Gaza. We reject the statements by some Israeli ministers and lawmakers calling for resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.” He added: “I think it’s also very important that as operations continue, they be designed around protecting civilians and around getting humanitarian assistance people needed – not the other way around.”
The top US diplomat also said that the killing of two Al Jazeera journalists in a strike in Gaza yesterday was an “unimaginable tragedy”. “This is an unimaginable tragedy. And that’s also been the case for... far too many innocent Palestinian men, women and children.”
