Amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and the plight of hostages held by Hamas, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on Sunday, emphasized the commitment to mediating for a new ceasefire in Gaza, despite challenges narrowing the prospects for success.
Speaking at the Doha Forum, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the persistent efforts by Qatar and its partners to secure a resolution.
He acknowledged, however, that the sustained bombardment was increasingly limiting the potential for achieving a successful outcome.
The conflict escalated when Israel declared war on Hamas following the militant group’s alleged killing of 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages on October 7.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 17,700 people in Gaza, including numerous women and children.
Qatar played a pivotal role in previous negotiations leading to a seven-day truce. The ceasefire involved the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid, yet ended at the beginning of the month.
Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s dual commitment to securing the release of hostages and ending the conflict, but expressed concerns over the lack of mutual willingness from both involved parties.
Earlier at the Doha Forum, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the Security Council’s paralysis due to geostrategic divisions hindering resolutions to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Guterres lamented the Council’s delayed response and its failure to declare a humanitarian ceasefire despite the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Convening an emergency Security Council meeting after two months of conflict, Guterres invoked Article 99 of the United Nations Charter, an action not taken by a UN chief in decades.
He warned of an imminent collapse of the humanitarian system, emphasizing the rapidly deteriorating situation’s catastrophic implications for Palestinians and regional peace and security.