Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Jan. 21, 2024. Xinhua
Doha, Qatar: Official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari has said Qatar’s mediation efforts for ceasefire in Gaza are underway ‘round the clock’ with different proposals on the table presented by both sides.
“I cannot comment on the details of ongoing negotiations between both sides. Mediation efforts are in full force ... we are exchanging ideas with both sides on the proposals presented,” he said in a press conference held yesterday.
“We are working round the clock. We are keeping focus on the mediation process itself without commenting on media reports coming about proposals whether they are correct or false. Negotiations are taking place; they didn’t stop. Both sides are talking; they are engaging. We are hopeful that will lead to something.”
He said that the situation on the ground is fluid. “Escalation taking place always affects the ongoing mediation process. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is also turning dire with every passing day.”
To a question, he said that Qatar is engaged in serious discussions with both sides. “We are getting ideas from both sides. Statements like not accepting a two-state solution, not stopping war and also about the displacement of Palestinians complicate the negotiations and affect the mediation process. Communication cut in Gaza also had an impact on the talks,” he added.
He said that Qatar has warned of the danger of talking about a new displacement of Palestinians as what happened during 70 years of displacement of the Palestinian people.
In our communication with all international parties, he said, “We stress the need to deliver a clear message to the Israeli occupation that it will not accept a new displacement of Palestinians.”
Al Ansari said that Qatari humanitarian aid continues to the Gaza Strip, where a plane was sent to evacuate the ninth batch of wounded from Gaza as part of the initiative of H H the Amir to treat 1,500 wounded, in cooperation with the French, Italian and Egyptian sides, bringing the number of those evacuated to more than 500 people, including residents, special cases, the wounded, and their companions.
He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the success of the mediation of Qatar, in cooperation with the friendly French Republic, in reaching an agreement between Israel and Hamas, which includes the entry of medicines and a shipment of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially in the most affected and damaged areas, in exchange for the delivery of the medicines needed to detainees in the Strip.
