Qatar urges immediate start to second phase of Gaza cease-fire talks
This aerial view shows displaced Palestinians returning to the war-devastated Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, Jan. 19, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on Sunday for Israel and Hamas to begin the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire agreement.
“We emphasize the importance of all parties committing to the full implementation of the cease-fire terms in Gaza and proceeding with the second phase of negotiations,” he said during a joint press conference in Doha with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
“There should be no hesitation in engaging in the second-phase negotiations,” he added.
Bin Abdulrahman noted that talks for the second phase of the Gaza deal were slated to begin on Monday.
“However, there are no clear details regarding the arrival of delegations or the official start of negotiations, though we hope to see progress in the coming days,” he said.
The Qatari premier stressed the need for both sides to negotiate in good faith.
According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed sending his negotiating team to Qatar until he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
Qatar’s strong opposition to Trump’s Gaza displacement plan
Addressing Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, bin Abdulrahman reaffirmed Qatar’s strong opposition to any forced displacement.
“We are engaged in discussions with the Trump administration, and we hope to avoid disagreements,” he said, reiterating Qatar’s commitment to ensuring Palestinians remain in their homeland.
At an Arab ministerial meeting in Cairo on Saturday, bin Abdulrahman again expressed Qatar’s firm rejection of any efforts to forcibly move Palestinians from Gaza.
Trump initially proposed on Jan. 25 that Palestinians in Gaza be relocated to Egypt and Jordan, an idea strongly rejected by both Cairo and Amman.
On Jan. 19, the first six-week phase of the Gaza and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect, with ongoing negotiations for the subsequent phases. The deal is mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with backing from the U.S.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 47,400 Palestinians, primarily women and children, and injured more than 111,500 since Oct. 7, 2023.
In November last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the enclave.
