Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari (Al-Jazeera)
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said on Tuesday that Doha is working to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and not a short truce lasting a few days, but the situation on the ground is complex.
He stressed that negotiation efforts are continuing, "and are now intensifying by the month of Ramadan, with the aim of reaching an agreement."
At the same time, he said, "We are not close to reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, but we are still optimistic."
Al-Ansari stressed that Qatar is still calling for the need to open land corridors for aid to enter Gaza without restrictions.
He added that the sea corridor to bring aid into Gaza cannot be an alternative to land corridors.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said that Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani reviewed developments in Gaza with US Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East Barbara Leaf, and discussed with her efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Strip.
The discussions also dealt with bringing aid to those besieged in Gaza
Source: Al Jazeera