Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the press conference in Doha, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that Qatar will continue mediation efforts to bridge gaps between the two parties to reach an agreement on a proposed ceasefire deal in Gaza.
“Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are committed to their partnership to end this war and reach a prisoner and hostage exchange deal,” he said while addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary of State H E Antony Blinken yesterday.
The Prime Minister said that everyone should take a clear stance to demand an end to this war. “Since the beginning of this war, nearly 37,000 have been martyred and 84,000 have been wounded so far, in addition to the ongoing policy of collective punishment and starvation used against the brothers in Gaza.”
“Achieving a ceasefire is the cornerstone of stability in the future. Qatar acts as a mediator and tries not to consider itself a party in this conflict, with the goal of ending the war, ending the suffering of the people in Gaza, and releasing the hostages, and then thinking about the next day.”
He said that he had discussed with the US Secretary of State the response Qatar received on Tuesday from Hamas and the Palestinian factions regarding the latest proposal on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal. “The response is currently being studied, and coordination with the concerned parties on the next steps is underway.”
The US Secretary of State said that Hamas, in its response, had made some changes/amendments to the proposed ceasefire deal, out of which some were workable and some were not.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted Qatar’s participation in many regional and international meetings and conferences over the past period, aimed at unifying visions and reaching a sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue.
Mentioning the “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” conference, he said that the conference called for urgent measures to end this conflict and ongoing operations in Gaza and to respect international law.
He appreciated the resumption of US air assistance to Gaza after a period of suspension due to operations in the region.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that reaching an agreement to save innocent lives during this period is very important, in addition to its role in saving the region from being on the brink of collapse and explosion. He expressed hopes that the American role and Qatar’s partners in Egypt and all countries would pressure all parties to reach an agreement to end this war.
He noted that the conflict has reached a turning point to find sustainable solutions, not temporary ones, that would bring security and stability to Gaza, the West Bank, and everyone living in this region.
“There has been a shift in this conflict in recent times, and there is a clear and firm call to end this war. The US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution also called for an immediate ceasefire, a deal for the release of hostages and prisoners, and a return to political negotiations to find sustainable solutions.” He also praised the announcement by the U.S. Secretary of State of additional humanitarian aid for Gaza, confirming Qatar’s continuous efforts to send humanitarian aid to the brothers in Gaza.
He expressed appreciation for the intensive efforts exerted by US President Joe Biden to unify visions and reach this proposal in a way that approximates, as much as possible, the perspectives of all parties.
Responding to a question, he said: “Qatar’s efforts in the negotiation process are not new, as they undergo phases of give-and-take to reach an agreement and usually do not include a definitive yes or no answer.” He expressed hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
He reiterated Qatar’s commitment to providing proposals to bridge the gap between the parties. He noted that having three countries (Qatar, Egypt, and the US) as guarantors of this process ensures that these negotiations will continue to reach a permanent ceasefire.
To a question, he said that the Hamas office in Doha is maintained to keep communication channels open. “Qatar’s policy is clear in supporting the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights, but that in the end, Qatar is a state rather than a political party.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Qatar has shown great generosity in helping people who are in desperate need, providing 4,700 tonnes of food and medicine, along with other urgent aid.
“The United States is the largest provider of aid to the Palestinians and will continue to do everything possible to support them.” He referred to the conference held on Tuesday in Jordan aimed at mobilizing international support to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the United States announced an additional $400m in aid to the Palestinians, bringing the total aid provided by his country to $670m since the war began.
He said that the quickest and most effective way to end the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis and to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent further violence lies in reaching a ceasefire, which will allow for a permanent end to the conflict.
He said that Qatar has always been an unwavering partner in mediation efforts to reach an agreement on the release of hostages.
Blinken pointed out the importance and necessity of this plan to transform the truce into a permanent end to the war and to convert the end of the war into a just and lasting peace, which can serve as a foundation for building a more integrated, stable, and prosperous region.
