Qatar reaffirms commitment to Gaza mediation amid stalemate

Doha, Qatar: Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari yesterday affirmed Qatar s commitment to medi...

Doha, Qatar: Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari yesterday affirmed Qatar’s commitment to mediation in Gaza and said that the present stalemate does not prevent efforts to end war in Gaza and de-escalate violence.

“That (stalemate in the mediation process) has not deterred us from continuing our communication with all sides within the conflict and beyond the conflict to make sure that the de-escalation efforts are continuing, and that when there is a window of opportunity that indicates within the mediation that would be captured,” said Dr. Al Ansari during the weekly press briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He emphasised that it is crucial to halt the unfolding situation in the Gaza Strip without delay and urged the international community to fulfil its responsibility and address each crime perpetrated by the occupying authority individually.

He also said that Israel’s closure of the Rafah crossing exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, but Qatar continues its commitment to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to Dr. Al Ansari 96 planes have carried 4,766 tonnes of aid to be delivered to the Gaza Strip since the escalation of violence.

Dr. Al Ansari also stressed that delivering aid through land is an optimal solution to ensure getting a large amount of aid to the Gaza Strip permanently since all other means such as airdropping and dropping by sea are less efficient.