DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has stressed the need to end the war in Gaza and Lebanon as soon as possible and called for showing a sense of responsibility towards the innocent and civilians.
In a joint press conference with US Secretary of State HE Anthony Blinken in Doha on Thursday, the PM said the past few days have witnessed an intensification of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, especially in the northern region.
The PM renewed condemnation of the siege imposed on northern Gaza and the systematic bombing of hospitals and refugee camps, which developed into dropping explosive barrels on our brothers in the Strip.
The PM stressed that Qatar's policy does not change regarding what is happening in the region, as it communicates with all parties in order to contain the situation and avoid any escalation that may ignite the region.
He said Qatar is working to stop the war in Gaza and Lebanon and reach a comprehensive ceasefire in the region.
The Arab region has witnessed enough and it is time to focus on restoring peace to the region and its people and achieving prosperity and development instead of talking about conflicts and endless escalation, the PM added.
Regarding Qatari mediation efforts to contain the situation, the PM said, “Efforts to end the war have been ongoing since October 8, 2023, as well as working to prevent the expansion of the conflict. These efforts resulted in the release of some prisoners and hostages in November 2023 and a temporary ceasefire. Unfortunately, since that time, we have been trying as much as possible to reach an agreement to end this war, but the challenges are great. Every time we get closer to a solution, unfortunately, we take steps back.”
The PM attributed this to the limited role of the mediator, especially if there is a party that is not engaged in these talks in a constructive and positive manner. The PM expressed hope that this behaviour has changed and that pressure will be applied on all parties to reach positive results and an agreement to end the war, noting in the same context that the role of the State of Qatar is mediation and its policy is not to talk about who constitutes an obstacle or to transmit information or details of the different stages of the negotiations.
Regarding Israel’s claim that a number of Al Jazeera journalists belong to Hamas, the PM said, “Al Jazeera Network is an independent media organisation operating from Doha, and we are proud of this organisation that has gained respect from everyone. Its coverage in various conflict zones around the world is praised, and we see it covering not only events in the Middle East, but also the conflict in Ukraine and other regions.”
“We have never seen journalists treated the way they are treated in Gaza. Al Jazeera operates according to international standards, and we must know and acknowledge that in this war we have learned that we cannot believe Israel’s accusations and claims. The Qatari reconstruction mission was bombed by Israeli army forces on charges of the existence of tunnels, and it turned out that what was there were water tanks that had been there for decades.”
The PM stressed the need to protect the press and journalists in conflict zones because this is required by international law, and that there is no justification for targeting journalists in conflict zones or civilians in general.
At the beginning of the press conference, the PM welcomed the US Secretary of State, explaining that the meeting with him was important and fruitful and an opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the war on Gaza and the path to reaching a solution, and the ongoing efforts between the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Arab Republic of Egypt and partners in the region to reach a solution to stop the war and return the hostages and prisoners.
He stated that the discussion addressed ways to stop the war in Lebanon and how to reach an urgent solution to stop this aggression and adhere to the Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 1701, especially since the State of Qatar has warned since the beginning of this war against the development and expansion of the conflict to other regions in the Middle East.
For his part, the US Secretary of State expressed his appreciation to the State of Qatar for the major role it plays as a partner in finding peace and stability and achieving stability and progress in the region, noting that it has made great attempts to return the hostages to their homes and reach a ceasefire.
Blinken praised the "generosity" of the State of Qatar, which provided thousands of tonnes of food, life-saving equipment and medicines to those affected, in addition to the significant aid provided by the United States to help the people of Gaza, where more than $1.2 billion was allocated to help the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and provide them with food, water, doctors and medicines, in addition to allocating an additional $2.5 billion to the region.
The US Secretary of State pointed out that providing aid and delivering it to the borders with Gaza is not enough, but it is also important that this aid reaches the people who need it. Therefore, it is necessary for Israel to take sustainable and emergency measures to deliver aid, and there is progress and positive steps being made in this regard.
“From the first day of the war in Gaza, we have been keen to ensure that it does not expand to include other countries in the region, and that the escalation does not become huge and the conflict does not become broader,” Blinken said, noting the need to work to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the great challenges facing children, women and men there, especially with the approach of winter.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, he said, “Israel must take the necessary measures to avoid harming civilians, Lebanese army forces, and peacekeeping forces. We are currently working diligently to reach a diplomatic solution and to fully implement Resolution 1701, allowing residents on both sides to return to their homes and live in peace and security, and also supporting Lebanese efforts to strengthen its institutions so that the Lebanese can enjoy prosperity and security.”
“The US has provided assistance to the Lebanese army and we are working with other partners to support the army with the resources it needs so that it can take responsibility for security throughout Lebanon and to ensure that Lebanon can reassert its sovereignty. We will continue to support the Lebanese parties in this regard, and also to reach a presidency that reflects the aspirations of the Lebanese. On these issues, we have a diligent work plan that we have undertaken with the Qatari side and we hope to achieve peace and security throughout the region,” he added.
In response to a question about the “generals’ plan” that was discussed in the Hebrew media, he said that the US completely rejects this alleged plan, and the Israeli government says that it is not its policy and rejects it as well.
“We reject any effort that aims to starve and besiege people and separate northern Gaza from the rest of the other areas in the Strip, and we are clear about this position. We are focusing intensively on the situation of the people in Gaza, especially getting the assistance they need and ensuring that the standards of international humanitarian law are respected. All we are focusing on is ensuring as much as possible that these standards are respected and strengthening the ability to protect people and get them the assistance they need,” he conclueded.
