The ceasefire deal is “the last chance for Gaza,” the Qatari prime minister said, adding: “Failure is not an option.”
In an exclusive interview for Sky NewsSheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani warned that “peace will not happen” without a Palestinian state.
He also criticized the warring parties for the time it took to reach an agreement. Qatar has been one of the key mediators between Israel and Hamas in the more than 15 months since the renewed conflict broke out.
“What we achieved with this deal is the last chance for Gaza. To save Gaza from this war, this is our last chance.
When we talk about peace in general, peace will ultimately not happen without a Palestinian state. In order to solve the root cause of the problem, and not just to solve the symptoms of the problem,” Al-Thani said, expecting the Israeli government to formally approve the cease-fire agreement.
Asked what the consequences of the failure of the ceasefire agreement would be, the Qatari prime minister said:
“Failure is not an option. That’s what we should all strive for.
If it doesn’t work, we won’t give up, we’ll make sure it’s reviewed again and the parties stick to it.
Al-Thani said Qatar’s role was to be a “guarantor and mediator” and would make sure a deal was reached.
He spoke of creating a “safety net” for any problems that need to be resolved before the deal is implemented.
The Qatari prime minister also criticized the negotiating parties for the time it took to reach an agreement, saying it was the same framework agreed in December 2023.
“What is essentially 13 months of losing negotiations on details that make no sense and are not worth a single life we lost in Gaza or a single hostage life lost to the bombing,” he said.
He also touched on the newly elected US President Donald Trump, whom he said could “create greater influence in the region”.
Commenting on how the new administration of the United States of America acted during the negotiations, he said:
“I believe that if we continue this attitude and approach for the next four years, we can create a lot of good things for the region.”
(Vijesti.ba)
