‘Qatar to continue trying to bridge gaps in ceasefire deal’

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that Qatar will continue...

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that Qatar will continue mediation efforts to bridge gaps between the two parties to reach an agreement on a proposed ceasefire deal in Gaza. 

“Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are committed to their partnership to end this war and reach a prisoner and hostage exchange deal,” he said while addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary of State H E Antony Blinken yesterday.

The Prime Minister said that everyone should take a clear stance to demand an end to this war. “Since the beginning of this war, nearly 37,000 have been martyred and 84,000 have been wounded so far, in addition to the ongoing policy of collective punishment and starvation used against the brothers in Gaza.”

“Achieving a ceasefire is the cornerstone of stability in the future. Qatar acts as a mediator and tries not to consider itself a party in this conflict, with the goal of ending the war, ending the suffering of the people in Gaza, and releasing the hostages, and then thinking about the next day.”

He said that he had discussed with the US Secretary of State the response Qatar received on Tuesday from Hamas and the Palestinian factions regarding the latest proposal on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal. “The response is currently being studied, and coordination with the concerned parties on the next steps is underway.”