Explosions illuminate the sky during Israeli strikes on Gaza City yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar is in constant communication with regional and international players for immediate de-escalation in Gaza strip and Israel, said Adviser to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari yesterday.
In weekly media briefing, he said Qatar has initiated contacts with regional and international players and is trying to coordinate efforts and understand situation on the ground better. He was referring to contacts of Qatari leadership with world leaders on the conflict.
He said Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani made telephonic conversations with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Egypt, Turkiye, Iran, the US, Spain, France and the UK to discuss solutions to this crisis, coordinate efforts, exchange views, and strengthen points of agreement to end the bloodshed. “The situation on the ground is very complicated.” He said that the current level of escalation was not seen in the recent past.
To a question about any Qatari mediation to diffuse war and release of prisoners, he said: “It is a bit early to comment on any mediation efforts by Qatar or other players of the region. Qatar has had many successes in de-escalating between two parties in the past ... at this moment (it is) very difficult to say that any party can start mediation.”
He added, “We have to see developments on the ground ... we are quite worried about what is happening right now ... we hope international community will work together to de-escalate the situation.” He said that the conflict must not become a regional confrontation with involvement of other players in the region. “We are worried about the developments in south Lebanon that they do not become part of this escalation.” He said Qatar’s communications aim at coordinating regional and international efforts and exchange the views with world leaders to stop the fighting, put an end the bloodshed, and free the prisoners.
He said Qatar has previously played roles to reduce escalation between Hamas and the occupation forces, relying on its ability to communicate quickly, continuously, and directly between the various parties, but this crisis is different.
“Qatar’s firm position on the Palestinian issue is that the only guarantee for achieving sustainable peace is reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue within the framework of the Arab Initiative and ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” said Al Ansari.
He said absence of a Palestinian solution will always accompany the absence of peace in this region. Therefore, he said, there must be a just and comprehensive solution, and the international community must press for this solution to be developed and for Palestinians to obtain their rights once and for all.
