The State of Qatar has been at the forefront of regional and international efforts to put an end to the war in Gaza, through a negotiated ceasefire which results in release of all detainees and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. The state’s leadership has been in constant diplomatic contacts to help achieve an end to the brutal war on Gaza.
Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also discussed the situation in Gaza and occupied Palestinian territories during his talks with President of Cyprus H E Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday and with Greek President H E Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister H E Kyriakos Mitsotakis yesterday. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, as part of a committee of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim world, has also met a number of European officials to mobilise international action to stop the war on Gaza.
The committee held a meeting with Prime Minister of Spain H E Dr. Pedro Sanchez, whose country has become one of the latest European nations to recognise the State of Palestine, in Madrid yesterday. The committee lauded Spain’s position on the issue and its recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Gazans’ plight has worsened as Israel has continued to attack Rafah and other areas in the Gaza Strip, in complete disregard for orders by the International Court of Justice to halt its military offensive on Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip, and despite global calls for ceasefire including resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
Death toll in Gaza since Israeli launched its military offensive on October 7 last year has risen to at least 36,096 and another 81,136 injured. One million Palestinians have fled the city of Rafah due to violent bombing over the past three weeks, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Qatar has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli forces’ ongoing targeting of displaced persons’ tents in Rafah, considering these actions a blatant challenge to international laws and norms and a subversion of the negotiation process. Turkish President H E Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that no country was safe unless Israel abides by international law. “A bare-knuckled Israel is a threat not only to Palestine or Gaza but also to global peace and humanity as a whole,” he said.
The situation in Gaza is beyond catastrophic. The international community must find ways to stop this war and work towards a two-state solution.
