Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, voiced skepticism about the recent progress in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, during his appearance at the Munich Security Conference this Saturday.
In a statement that highlighted the challenges faced in reaching a peaceful resolution, Sheikh Mohammed remarked, "I believe we can reach an agreement very soon. However, the pace witnessed in the past few days was not very promising."
The Qatari Prime Minister remained hopeful, emphasizing the importance of continuous efforts towards peace. "We will always remain optimistic and continue to press on," he stated, addressing the international community in English.
A critical point of contention Sheikh Mohammed pointed out was the issue of detainees in Gaza. He criticized Israel's precondition of releasing detainees before ceasing hostilities, stating that it "complicates the situation and exacerbates the humanitarian disaster."
"This dilemma, unfortunately, has been misused by many states, implying that to achieve a ceasefire, an agreement on hostages is necessary. This should not be a precondition," Sheikh Mohammed explained, underscoring the complexity of the negotiations.
While the details of the negotiations remain confidential, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted two key elements from previous agreements: the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the release of Palestinians in exchange for detainees held by Palestinian resistance.
The Prime Minister also stressed that the Palestinian Authority is the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinians, yet acknowledged Hamas's role in representing Palestinian interests. "Palestinians choose who represents them, like any nation in the world," he stated.
Sheikh Mohammed warned against applying double standards to global conflicts, drawing a parallel between the West's response to the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza. "Arab citizens are asking why we haven't intervened to help the Palestinians and protect civilians in Gaza. How will we face our citizens when we show them we couldn't help the defenseless Palestinians in Gaza?" he questioned, highlighting a growing concern in the region.
He further cautioned that the conflict in Gaza could extend to the entire region, referencing military operations launched from Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen in recent months.
As for the city of Rafah, Sheikh Mohammed expressed a desire to end the war, stating, "Regarding Rafah... we see no benefit in continuing this war."
The talks involving officials from Qatar, Egypt, Israel, and the United States have yet to yield a ceasefire agreement, leaving the international community in anticipation of a resolution that could bring peace to the region.
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