Qatar has intensified its diplomatic efforts to broker a comprehensive agreement to end the ongoing war in Gaza as renewed ceasefire negotiations gain steam in Doha. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reiterated Qatar’s commitment to finding an endpoint that takes into account both humanitarian concerns and long-term security needs. Al Jazeera Qatar’s mediation aims to achieve an agreement that ends the war, ensures the release of hostages, and brings lasting stability to Gaza,” Sheikh Mohammed remarked at a press briefing. Qatar hopes its mediation can move beyond temporary truces to find lasting peace agreements that meet these criteria. * WP Qatari and Egyptian mediators have developed a plan that calls for a five to seven-year truce, the exchange of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israeli authorities, withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza entirely, and implementation of reconstruction efforts. Though significant efforts have been undertaken, numerous challenges still exist. Hamas rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal citing impossibly difficult conditions such as its demand for complete disarmament and no promise of full Israeli troop withdrawal, according to The Guardian and Reuters reports. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, as Israeli airstrikes have resulted in civilian casualties from airstrikes targeting shelters, including an attack that claimed 10 lives at one school-turned-shelter. Health officials have also expressed alarm over a UN-backed polio vaccination campaign being suspended due to conflict. Qatar has expanded its diplomatic efforts beyond the Middle East. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently in Moscow to discuss regional conflicts – specifically Gaza – that have arisen since 2014. As negotiations continue, the international community closely watches Qatar’s mediation in hopes that they will lead to a lasting solution of Gaza conflict.
