The Qatari government assured Friday that it was continuing its mediation efforts in order to “bridge the gap” between Israel and Hamas and thus achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages.
“We have continued our (mediation, editor’s note) efforts without interruption in recent days,” assured the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdelrahmane Al-Thani, during a joint press conference in Madrid with the Spanish minister. of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.
“There have been several meetings with the leadership of Hamas to try to bridge the gap between the two parties and reach an agreement that results in a ceasefire and the release of the hostages” Israelis, people kidnapped on the 7 October by this Palestinian Islamist movement and detained since in the Gaza Strip, he continued.
The current discussions are based on a plan announced on May 31 by US President Joe Biden which provides, in a first phase, a six-week ceasefire accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. , the release of certain hostages as well as Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
“Efforts are continuing but, until now, we have not arrived at the formula that seems most appropriate and closest to what was presented,” acknowledged the Prime Minister, whose country is in first line in discussions to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
