Qatari Prime Minister: We hope to end negotiations between Hamas and Israel as soon as possible

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani stressed that the speed of progress in negotiations to release detainees cannot be guaranteed (Reuters)

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani confirmed that his country's goal is to end the talks and mediation efforts between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel as soon as possible, put an end to the war on Gaza, and return the detainees.

In a statement to US National Radio "NPR", the Qatari Prime Minister said that he hopes "that nothing will happen that will undermine our efforts, or jeopardize the process." He pointed out that "the speed of progress in negotiations to release detainees cannot be guaranteed, and the matter depends on the two parties." He pointed out that any attack on American forces might expand the scope of the war.

The Qatari official said: “I think we must all unite to stop this war, save those lives, save these children and women from being killed and chased and bombed with air strikes and tanks and everything,” and warned that if the conflict between Hamas and Israel does not stop soon, the dangers of a regional war would arise. It increases.

But in this case, he explained that he did not know when a breakthrough might occur between Hamas and Israel, and said, "It all depends on both parties." "Our goal is to end this as soon as possible and return the hostages, but also to put an end to the war."

The Qatari Prime Minister added that the Qatari mediation achieved results that the fighting did not achieve, including the release of more than 100 detainees, explaining that “the operation proved successful. The military operation did not do that. It was the opposite, in fact. Some of them were killed.”

In turn, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari told the American “PBS” network today that the negotiations between Hamas and Israel “are at a good moment now,” and the parties have reached many matters that have eluded the mediators for two months.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman added that Hamas announced that it had received a draft and was discussing it, noting that this matter was two weeks ago.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari confirmed that the negotiations between Hamas and Israel are “at a good moment now” (Al-Jazeera)

Discussions in Washington and American optimism

Earlier, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani discussed yesterday with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan the necessity of finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said - in a statement - that the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister discussed with Sullivan ways to reduce the escalation in the Gaza Strip, during their meeting in Washington, DC.

The Qatari Prime Minister stressed to Sullivan the necessity of finding a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, and stressed the need for continued entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

In turn, the US National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator, John Kirby, said that progress is being made in the talks on reaching an agreement to release the "hostages" and a long-term truce in Gaza.

Kirby added that the United States sees an opportunity for a long cessation of fighting in Gaza, allowing the release of “hostages.” He said that the work that had been accomplished was constructive, and that he met with Qatari officials to discuss the issue of detainees in Gaza.

He expressed the White House's desire to see a Palestinian state, and said that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to achieve that.

Haniyeh confirmed that Hamas had received the proposal that was circulated at the Paris meeting and is in the process of studying it and submitting a response to it (Al Jazeera)

Hamas is studying a proposal

In the same context, the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said that the movement received the proposal that was circulated at the Paris meeting (including the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel), and pointed out that the movement is in the process of studying it and submitting its response to it, on the basis that the priority is to stop the aggression against Gaza. And the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.

Haniyeh also said that the movement is open to discussing any serious and practical initiatives or ideas, provided that they lead to stopping the aggression, providing shelter for the people of Gaza, reconstruction, lifting the siege, and completing a serious prisoner exchange process.

Haniyeh appreciated the role of Qatar and Egypt in reaching an agreement for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza on the path to ending the aggression, and urged the world to put pressure on the occupation “to stop the massacres and war crimes,” including the policy of abuse against the Palestinians in the West Bank.

He also appreciated Egypt's position, which is identical to the Palestinian position, by rejecting the presence of the occupation on the border with Egypt, and thwarting the displacement plan.

Haniyeh denounced the position of the United States and some Western countries towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), and the suspension of its contributions instead of increasing them. He expressed the movement’s appreciation for South Africa’s position, which he described as historic, by filing a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice against Israel and its victory for the Palestinian people.

He also expressed Hamas' "pride" in the qualitative developments taking place on the "resistance" fronts supporting Gaza, which he said were aimed at stopping the aggression and lifting the siege. He also denounced the attacks on Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, and the continuing threats from Iran.

Netanyahu confirmed that his government would not release those he described as “terrorists” from Israeli (French) prisons.

Israeli intransigence

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government would not release those he described as “terrorists” from Israeli prisons, in reference to Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu added that Israeli army forces will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until the war goals are achieved, most notably the elimination of Hamas and the return of all detainees in the Strip.

Despite the mounting criticism directed at him from inside and outside Israel, Netanyahu insists on refusing to stop the war until the goals he set are achieved, and he has failed to date in achieving any of them.

Tel Aviv estimates that there are about 136 Israeli detainees in Gaza, while Israel holds at least 8,800 Palestinian prisoners in its prisons.

Qatari mediation, with Egyptian-American support, succeeded in reaching a temporary truce on November 24, which lasted for a week, during which 240 Palestinian prisoners were released from occupation prisons in exchange for the release of more than 100 detainees held by the resistance in Gaza, including about 80 Israelis.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies