Qatar, Egypt, US call on Hamas, Israel to finalise Gaza truce plan
Qatar, Egypt, and USA — as mediators in ongoing discussions to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages and detainees — have jointly called on Hamas and Israel to finalise the agreement outlined by US President Joe Biden on May 31.
In a joint statement on Saturday, they said: “These principles brought the demands of all parties together in a deal that serves multiple interests and will bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as hostages and their families. This deal offers a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and ending the crisis.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from USA’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday.
The phone conversation discussed the close strategic ties between Qatar and the USA and ways to support and strengthen them. Both sides discussed the gravity of the situation in Gaza and occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to joint mediation efforts aimed at stopping the war in the Strip.
During the call, Sheikh Mohamed said they were working on achieving a permanent ceasefire. He also expressed the mediators’ hopes that the two parties would respond positively to the principles contained in US President Joe Biden's speech.
Biden had suggested the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in the Gaza Strip and the release of detainees, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the entry of aid into the Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces hammered Rafah in southern Gaza with tanks and artillery merely hours after US President Biden said Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire.
Shortly after Biden’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had insisted his country would pursue war until it achieved all its aims. Hamas, meanwhile, said it ‘views positively’ the Israeli plan laid out by Biden.
In his first major address outlining a possible end to the nearly eight-month war, Biden said Israel’s three-stage offer would begin with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.
It would also see the ‘release of numerous hostages’ in exchange for ‘hundreds of Palestinian prisoners’ held in Israeli jails.
Israel and the Palestinians would then negotiate for a lasting ceasefire, with the truce to continue so long as talks are ongoing, Biden said.
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