Watan-The Qatari Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, conducted a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as announced by the Qatari Amir Diwan in a statement Tuesday evening.
According to the statement, the call discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the joint mediation efforts to reach an immediate and lasting ceasefire agreement in Gaza, alongside the release of prisoners and detainees, and the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to all besieged areas.
Ceasefire agreement
This call coincides with the nearing submission of Hamas’s response to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators regarding the ceasefire proposal in Gaza and the exchange deal. This suggests that a ceasefire agreement may be imminent, with the deal in its final stages after negotiations stalled and halted multiple times.
The statement further emphasized the need to intensify mediation efforts in the upcoming phase, in collaboration with all regional and international partners, to end the war in the Gaza Strip and alleviate civilian suffering.
Additionally, the call addressed bilateral relations and ways to enhance and develop them, along with several regional and international issues, as stated by the Qatari Amir Diwan.
Biden called Qatari Amir and Sisi
In parallel, U.S. President Joe Biden stated Tuesday evening, coinciding with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad’s call to el-Sisi, that he will work with Egypt and Qatar to ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire terms in Gaza and make every effort to secure the release of detainees.
Hamas demands a halt to the destructive Israeli war on the Gaza Strip as part of any prisoner exchange agreement, a demand rejected by Israeli ministers in the right-wing-dominated government.
Critical hours ahead
Israeli political and security officials unanimously agree that the coming hours will be “decisive” for the planned military operation in Rafah and the mediators’ efforts to reach a deal.
Israeli media quoted officials from the Israeli army and political level as saying that Tel Aviv would make its decision within a maximum of 72 hours regarding “starting the operation in the city of Rafah in the south of the Strip, or reaching an agreement with Hamas on the prisoner exchange.”
Officials consider Hamas’s response to the Egyptian proposal for the exchange deal as crucial, expected to be delivered to Cairo today or tomorrow.