Gaza talks at critical moment, ceasefire not complete, Qatar’s Prime Minister says
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Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Jassim al-Thani said mediators are working to advance the ceasefire.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DOHA – Negotiations on consolidating the US-backed truce in the war in Gaza are at a “critical” moment, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Dec 6.
Mediators are working to force the next phase of ceasefire forward, the Qatari Prime Minister, whose country has been a key mediator in the war, said during a panel at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar.
“We are at a critical moment. It’s not yet there. So what we have just done is a pause,” Mr al-Thani said, referring to violence subsiding after the Gaza truce took effect nearly a month ago
“We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire. A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces – (until) there is stability back in Gaza, people can go in and out – which is not the case today.”
Talks on achieving the next stages of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war in the Palestinian enclave have been ongoing.
The plan calls for an interim technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza, overseen by an international “board of peace” and backed by an international security force.
Agreeing on the make-up and mandate of the international security force has been particularly challenging.
On Dec 4, an Israeli delegation held talks in Cairo with mediators on the immediate return of the last hostage held in Gaza, which would complete a key initial part of Mr Trump’s plan.
Since the fragile truce started, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 27 bodies
Although fighting has diminished, Israel has continued to attack Gaza and demolish what it says is Hamas infrastructure.
Hamas and Israel have traded blame for violations.
The Palestinian local health authorities said on Dec 6 that Israeli fire killed five people in Beit Lahiya and Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip that day.
The Israeli military said that in two separate incidents on Dec 6, forces deployed in northern Gaza behind the so-called yellow line of withdrawal agreed in the ceasefire had fired on Palestinian militants who crossed the line, killing three. REUTERS
