Qatar Prepares for Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Talks Amid Global Reactions
As negotiations progress, Qatar urges momentum for sustainable peace, while Trump's controversial proposal on Gaza sparks global criticism.
Watan-Qatar announced on Wednesday that it is preparing for the second phase of negotiations for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, noting that it “could begin any day.”
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told the American channel Fox News: “We hope that the second phase will lead to reconstruction and sustainable peace in the region.”
The spokesperson also emphasized the need to build on the momentum created through the implementation of the first phase of the agreement. He praised former U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in reaching the agreement, saying, “Without President Trump’s decisiveness and decisions before taking office, we would not have reached the agreement.”
Trump caused shock on Tuesday with his statements about “U.S. control” over Gaza and turning it into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere.
When asked by Fox News about the impact of Trump’s proposal on the negotiations, Al-Ansari said, “I don’t think it’s the right time now to start commenting on specific ideas.”
He added, “We know there is significant shock among the Palestinian side regarding displacement. However, we reiterate that discussing this is premature because we do not know how this war will end.”
Trump’s proposal has already drawn widespread criticism globally and has been rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, mediated an agreement between Israel and Hamas that led to the end of a 15-month war in the Palestinian territory.
The agreement, which took effect on January 19, consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days. In the first phase, negotiations are held to initiate the second and third phases under Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediation.
