Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said that his country is trying to reach an agreement that would lead to the release of detainees and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stressed the importance of delivering more aid to Gaza.
Since October 7, the Israeli occupation army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza, which has left, as of Sunday, 29,722 martyrs and missing persons, including 10,000 child martyrs and 7,000 women, massive destruction of infrastructure and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, according to the Gaza Strip authorities. And the United Nations.
The Qatari Prime Minister added, in a joint press conference with Blinken after their meeting in Doha, that the negotiations are going through great challenges, and that an attack against a senior leader of the Hamas movement complicates them further.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman stressed the importance of pressure to stop the fighting as quickly as possible and allow aid to pass into the Gaza Strip, saying, “It is painful that we have reached a stage in which we have unfortunately become accustomed to scenes of killing and destruction in Gaza.”
The Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: The crisis must be contained as soon as possible and a ceasefire must be reached in Gaza. There can be no peace in the region except through a just and comprehensive settlement within the framework of international legitimacy.#Gaza_War #News pic.twitter.com/Y2v2SrC63f
– Tel Aviv Tribune Channel (@AJArabic) January 7, 2024
He stressed that he discussed with the US Secretary of State an attempt to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region, stressing that there will be no peace in the region except through a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue within the framework of international legitimacy.
He also indicated that Doha does not see the military solution as the correct solution to respond to what is happening in the Red Sea.
More aid
For his part, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that it is very important for Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza and provide humanitarian aid.
He stressed that 90% of the population of the Gaza Strip faces a severe food shortage, stressing that his country raises with Israel the need to do everything possible to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Blinken continued, “We reject statements issued by officials in Israel to resettle Gaza residents, and the United Nations can play a decisive role regarding the return of Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza.”
US Secretary of State: We have an obligation to use our influence to avoid the emergence of new fronts and attacks in the current conflict #Houthis In the Red Sea, it disrupted more than 20% of international shipments#Gaza_War #News pic.twitter.com/ORLHgkp3bi
– Tel Aviv Tribune Channel (@AJArabic) January 7, 2024
He stressed that Washington is grateful for the continued efforts of the State of Qatar to release Israeli hostages from Gaza, including Americans.
Regarding what is happening in the Red Sea, the US Secretary confirmed that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea caused the disruption of more than 20% of international shipments, and therefore we will continue to defend maritime security in the region.
He added that the Houthi attacks cause harm to people across the world, and we must commit to using our influence to avoid the emergence of new fronts in the current conflict.