Qatar’s Emir speaks with Joe Biden, Hamas officials and US envoys to the Middle East
In a statement, the White House announced Monday that “President Biden spoke today with Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar. The two leaders discussed negotiations in Doha regarding a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, based on the May 27, 2024 arrangement outlined by the President last year and unanimously approved by the Council UN Security ».
Emir Tamim Ben Hamad Al Thani also received a Hamas delegation to discuss the ceasefire agreement, according to the Qatari presidency. The delegation was led by Hamas’s main negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya.
The Emir of Qatar also met Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East designated by US President-elect Donald Trump, and Brett McGurk, the current envoy of the current president, Joe Biden. They have “examined developments in the Gaza Strip (…) as well as the latest progress in the truce negotiations »according to a press release issued by the emir’s office.
Qatar gave Israel and Hamas a version « finale » of a ceasefire agreement and release of Hamas hostages intended to end the war in the Gaza Strip, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Monday. “The next twenty-four hours will be crucial to reaching an agreement”he added.
Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, reiterated: “We are close to an agreement and we can achieve it this week. I’m not making any promises or predictions, but it’s within reach.”he said of an agreement that would be accompanied by the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, at a joint press conference with his Danish counterpart, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Gideon Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, said Israel was working « dur » to obtain an agreement that would end the war in the Gaza Strip and allow the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.
