Qatar: Ceasefire Talks in Gaza Ongoing Despite Obstacles, Time to End the War
Qatari Prime Minister Reaffirms Efforts to End Gaza War, Rejects Accusations of Supporting Protests or Anti-Semitism
Watan-Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated, in response to a question from The New Arab correspondent, that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza have not stopped, emphasizing that “it is time to end this war.”
In a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Doha on Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed noted that Thursday’s meeting in Doha with the head of Israel’s Mossad “falls within this context, and some progress can be spoken of.”
He confirmed that Qatar, alongside Egypt, continues its efforts to resume the ceasefire in Gaza, despite political blackmail and obstacles. The Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed concern over the potential collapse of the ceasefire agreement, stressing the urgent need to mobilize efforts to implement the remaining phases immediately. He firmly rejected the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, highlighting that Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza since March 2.
Qatar Vows to Continue Gaza Mediation Despite Israeli Smear Campaigns
Sheikh Mohammed stressed that Qatar will persist in its mediation efforts to end the war, undeterred by campaigns to tarnish its reputation. He said: “Smear campaigns against Qatar will not deter us from continuing our efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange,” and criticized “fringe politicians in Israel” who “forgot Qatar’s role in freeing over 100 Israeli hostages.” He added: “We faced misinformation from a government that should focus on serving its people and securing the release of hostages.”
Regarding Hamas’ proposal, Sheikh Mohammed explained that the group offered to release all hostages in exchange for prisoners, but under conditions Israel refused, as it seeks the hostages without ending the war. He stressed the urgent need for a permanent end to the war.
Qatar Rejects Accusations Over U.S. Protests as Turkey Urges Gaza Ceasefire
On accusations that Qatar supports protests at U.S. universities and promotes hate speech or anti-Semitism, Sheikh Mohammed dismissed them as “baseless and absurd.” He added: “We have never been party to anti-Semitism; claims against Qatar are unfounded,” noting that any university funding passes through governmental channels.
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need to return to a ceasefire in Gaza, deliver aid, and exchange prisoners. He said: “There is no option but to pressure Israel to enforce a ceasefire, and Qatar has made tremendous efforts toward this goal.” Fidan also confirmed continued political efforts to achieve a two-state solution, enabling both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace.
On Syria, Fidan stated: “We reject any intervention that threatens Syria’s territorial unity or internal affairs. We support a framework where everyone can live together through the protection of Syrian lands. We are against religious and sectarian divisions, and the new Syrian constitution must represent all groups.”
