Doha, 04 June 2024

Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of State of Qatar, Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has said that situation in Gaza is worsening day by day. By using the military force cannot solve the conflict, it is only through bilateral discussions, he added.

Addressing the media in his weekly briefing, Dr Al Ansari said that no one can finish Hamas or other party to the conflict. The only solution to solve the conflict is in discussions. He stressed on both the parties to solve the conflict through negotiation.

He said that as far as negotiation is concerned, it is never stopped between Hamas and Israel.  Both parties to the conflict is to realize that reaching an agreement is no longer linked to narrow political calculations, but to this catastrophic humanitarian situation in the enclave, the worsening security and political repercussions in Israel, the attacks in northern Israel, and the confrontations in northern and central Gaza, which cast their shadows on the situation on the ground.

He stressed the international community to pressure the Israeli and Palestinian sides to accept US President Joe Biden’s internationally-backed proposal to end the war in the Gaza Strip, and reach a prisoner exchange deal between the two sides.

Dr AlAnsari said that the Qatar-Egypt-US sponsored negotiations round between Hamas and the Israeli occupation forces is closely linked to the principles set by President Biden in his last speech. He added that both sides now have clear ideas on the table to negotiate.

He said that an Israeli proposal reflecting the principles as stated by President Biden was conveyed to Hamas, and the paper now includes positions closer than before to the positions of the two sides. He noted that all sides were doing their best to put the final touches to reach an agreement.

He added that Qatar had been pressing on unwavering contacts with all parties since the beginning of this round of negotiations. Yet, he said it was difficult to put a time frame for these negotiations, because they are linked to many on-the-ground situations , and that what can be done is to always emphasize and focus on the need to reach an immediate ceasefire deal.

The issue now is related to the existence of clear positions from both parties on President Biden’s principles and the ideas on the table, he added.

To date, the Israeli aggression has left over 36,000 martyrs in the Gaza Strip and over 82,000 wounded, while over one million displaced Palestinians are struggling a new displacement wave as they are directly targeted, Dr. Al Ansari added.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced that it is unable to provide its aid, after being suspended at the Rafah crossing by the occupation.

Dr Al Ansari stressed that an humanitarian aid delivery should not be linked to any political reason.

Dr Al Ansari said the ongoing almost permanent negotiations are held in Cairo and Doha, or via means of communication, until both parties reach a language of agreement to move to direct meetings at the highest levels.

Since the first day of this mediation and all the mediations it has undertaken, the State of Qatar has been engaged in a positive and sincere manner with the aim of reaching an end to human suffering and an end to the crisis, he added.

When Qatar announced earlier it was re-evaluating its role as a mediator, it was primarily linked to the seriousness of the parties in reaching a solution to this crisis and the effectiveness of the Qatari role, he added, noting Qatar’s ongoing commitment to mediation efforts as long as there is a possibility to end the crisis and suffering of civilians, return Palestinians to their homes, reconstruct Gaza and achieve the demands of the Palestinian people.