Regarding Qatari contacts to find a solution to the Palestinian crisis, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that: When the crisis began, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and I established many contacts with many regional and international officials. He added there are specific goals at this stage namely to seek de-escalation of the situation, hoping that the war will stop and humanitarian corridors will be secured to pass aid to Gaza as well as the issue of civilian prisoners that we are working with our partners for their return to their families in the end.
His Excellency explained that the State of Qatar’s role focuses on finding solutions to this crisis, stopping its expansion, and preventing the conflict from expanding or engaging on other fronts, and its priorities today focus on stopping the fighting on the ground, delivering humanitarian aid and the return of prisoners to their countries.
Regarding the Hamas office in Doha, His Excellency stressed that this office has been used from the beginning a channel of communication and a means to bring peace to the region, and this is its purpose, pointing out that the State of Qatar always keeps the channels of communication open and focuses on putting an end to this conflict, and this will remain the focus in the coming period.
His Excellency continued by saying: We are now working in Qatar, and I believe that the US shares this goal with us, to put an end to this conflict and on how to reduce the escalation and return the prisoners safe.
Regarding the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the return of the prisoners, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that it is too early to make judgments about the results of this war, but we hope that all the detained prisoners will return and that there will be positive prospects… and we are doing everything in our power for their safe release.
With regard to the Israeli response in Gaza, we have seen the amount of destruction. Half of Gaza has been destroyed so far, and the number of people affected by this attack is very big, and they are human beings whether they are Palestinians or Israelis. It is very painful.
His Excellency continued by saying: We would like to see international law applied and that the same international standards are applied as in other wars. We are trying to keep channels of communication open in order to alleviate human suffering and to move forward with humanitarian corridors or even deliver aid. We cannot deprive the people of Gaza of access to water, electricity, medicine, and basic means of life, and we believe in the seriousness of this matter.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his concern about the continued absence of political prospects for the Palestinians, adding, “Unfortunately, this matter will continue, so we need to focus on how to cooperate to give hope in developing solutions to their cause.” In a question regarding the Iranian funds deposited in Qatar as a result of the Iranian-American agreement that was brokered by Qatar, His Excellency said that the State of Qatar is committed to any agreement to which it is a party and no step will be taken without consulting the rest of the parties, adding that these funds will be used in accordance with the agreement concluded with the United States and Iran.
For his part, HE Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken said that he held constructive talks with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as well as with HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.
His Excellency expressed his country’s gratitude for cooperation with the State of Qatar on many issues. Qatar, he said, is a reliable partner and has always been a close partner to the United States of America in many initiatives. We have worked together in returning Americans from Afghanistan and have also cooperated in humanitarian cases such as the earthquake in Turkiye and northern Syria.
HE the US Secretary of State added that his meetings in Doha come at a difficult and important time in the region, noting that his country is currently working with the State of Qatar to prevent the expansion of the crisis.
He continued by saying that they discussed all the details to prevent any party from expanding this crisis, and that they are also working to secure the release of prisoners, including American citizens, in cooperation with the State of Qatar and various allies and partners in the region.
In this context, His Excellency renewed his country’s appreciation for the work undertaken by the State of Qatar to secure the release of prisoners. He said, “We highly appreciate this work and it is appreciated by many countries.”
Source: Qatar News Agency