Doha, Qatar: A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that Israel should have ceased its actions in Gaza in line with former US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative.
“Concerning the ceasefire, this question should first be directed to the Israeli occupying authority,” said Majed al-Ansari, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson. “If the prime minister’s remarks about following the Trump plan were accurate, it was supposed to truly stop the fighting,” he told reporters in Doha.
This week, Hamas and Israel are engaged in indirect discussions in Egypt about Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, which aims to resolve the conflict and establish a framework for post-war governance in the region.
Following Hamas’s agreement on Friday to consider releasing hostages under Trump’s proposal, the US president urged Israel to halt fire in Gaza, writing on his Truth Social platform:
“Israel must immediately cease bombing Gaza, enabling us to safely and swiftly secure the hostages!”
Ansari expressed caution regarding the peace talks in Egypt. “I am certain that this phase of negotiations involves all parties being deeply committed to finding a consensus, but many details must be taken into account,” he said.
Cautious Optimism in Ongoing Egypt Talks
Ansari further noted that the clauses of the Trump plan require practical interpretation and coordination with all involved parties.
He said it was still “too early” to discuss the future of Hamas’s political office in Doha, following Israel’s recent strike on the group’s leadership in the Qatari capital.
He emphasized that Hamas’s Doha office, supported by the US, has helped Qatar mediate communication during the conflict, saying:
“While there remains a necessity for communication with Hamas, this remains essential.”
Meanwhile, indirect talks in Egypt between Israel and Hamas were described as “positive” so far, according to two sources close to the Palestinian delegation who spoke with AFP.
One of the sources noted that discussions lasted about four hours and would resume in Sharm El-Sheikh on Tuesday. Another Palestinian source confirmed that negotiations were set to continue around noon.
