Qatar says it is ‘motivated’ to support efforts to end the Gaza explosion | Israel-Palestine Conflicts News
A month after suspending its request for mediation, Qatar said it is seeing “momentum” in efforts to reach an agreement to end Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, as dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli army’s continued assault on the besieged area.
Speaking at a Doha forum on Saturday, Qatar’s Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the country took a step towards mediating talks to end the Gaza bombing because it failed to see “real determination” to end the war.
But the minister said that after the United States presidential election on November 5, Qatar saw “that momentum is returning”.
“We have seen great encouragement from the incoming managers [of US President-elect Donald Trump] so that an agreement can be reached even before the president arrives [into] office” in January, Al Thani said.
“And that actually did [try] … to get you back on track. We have been working together for the past few weeks,” he added.
Efforts to end Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 44,600 Palestinians since early October 2023, have begun, with critics accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of stalling talks.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani @MBA_AlThani_ the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a panel discussion at the Doha Forum: Qatar emphasizes that reaching a lasting agreement depends on the sincere determination of all parties to end the war and conclude… pic.twitter.com/sjGYthIY5i
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) December 7, 2024
The administration of the outgoing President of the United States, Joe Biden, who has repeatedly said that they want an end to the fighting in Gaza but refused to give US aid to Israel, have also faced criticism for failing to stop the fighting.
The US provides Israel with at least $3.8bn in military aid every year, and the Biden administration has approved an additional $14bn to aid its allies since the war began last year.
Trump – like Biden, who is a staunch supporter of Israel – this week warned that “there will be hell to pay” if the hostages in Gaza are not released when he entered the White House on January 20.
“Those involved will be hit harder than anyone has been hit in the long and storied history of the United States of America. RELEASE THE TRANSPORTERS NOW!” wrote on social media.
Dozens were killed throughout Gaza
Meanwhile, medical sources in Gaza told Al Jazeera Arabic on Saturday that 39 Palestinians have been killed since early morning in Israeli shelling, including a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp that killed at least 26 people.
Reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said the attack on the refugee camp targeted a building in an area with many people living with homeless families.
“People were buried under tons of rubble,” Abu Azzoum said, adding that rescuers and civilians were still searching for possible survivors and bodies that could be taken for burial.
Israeli forces also besieged the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, Beit Lahiya, and the surrounding area.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency Sanad showed Israeli soldiers shooting at a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance near the hospital.
Amid bombings and hostilities near the Kamal Adwan hospital in the north. #Gaza yesterday, it was reported that 33 people died just outside the center.
Given the fragile security situation, an international medical team—sent by the @WHO five days ago…
– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 7, 2024
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), said the international medical team was “forced to pull out” amid the worsening security situation at the Kamal Adwan hospital.
In a statement posted on social media on Saturday, he said “evacuees, caregivers and many injured patients began to flee the hospital and panic spread” but said 90 patients and 66 medical staff remained at the facility.
“Kamal Adwan is not working properly, but this latest incident threatens its ability to remain operational. It is one of the last lines of life for the people of northern Gaza. We urgently call for the protection of health facilities and an end to the fighting!” he wrote.
Back in Doha, the Qatari prime minister said the Gulf state was working to secure the negotiation process “to ensure we can get a meaningful result”.
“We hope that things will be done quickly. We hope that the parties’ determination to engage in good faith will continue in the same way,” said Al Thani.
“It’s all about the main questions: Is there a will to end the war? Yes or no. Is there a willingness to have an exchange agreement? Yes or no,” he added.
“Those are two simple questions with very simple answers. If the answers are yes to both questions, we will have an agreement.”
