Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdelrahman Al Thani said on Thursday that Doha will host a new round of ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip.
“A US and Israeli delegation will visit Doha to discuss ways to advance the Gaza ceasefire talks,” Al Thani said at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, without giving information on the date of the delegations’ visit.
Al Thani, who is also Qatar’s foreign minister, said his talks with Blinken included mediation efforts for Gaza and a “day-after” plan for the enclave, calling the talks “constructive”.
“Qatar is working with Egypt on any initiative aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza,” Al Thani said, adding that his country had hosted meetings with Hamas’ political bureau over the past two days.
Qatar’s prime minister condemned Israel’s escalation and blockade of the northern Gaza Strip and the “systematic bombing of hospitals there”, calling for an end to the war in Gaza “as soon as possible”.
“There is no justification for targeting journalists in conflict zones, and the excuses for doing so are unacceptable,” Al Thani added.
He emphasized that the Doha-based Al Jazeera television “works according to the highest international standards of journalism”.
“Doha wants to avoid any escalation in the region and is talking to all parties to contain the situation,” Al Thani said.
Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar have so far failed to produce a ceasefire in Gaza, but Washington says Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week could lead to progress in talks. Hamas, however, says the conflict will end once Israel halts its military campaign in the blockaded enclave, which has killed more than 42,800 people since last year.
The Israeli military has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since last year’s attack by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is facing a charge of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza, AA writes.
