Technical talks for Gaza ceasefire underway, says MoFA spokesperson
Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Advisor to Qatar’s Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), said ceasefire talks are ongoing between Hamas and Israel at the technical committee level.
However, Al Ansari said no time frame could be given for sealing of the ceasefire deal.
In the weekly media briefing held on Tuesday, Al Ansari said the technical meetings were ongoing.
“There’re no principal meetings taking place at the moment. At these meetings, there’re a lot of issues that are being discussed. We’re trying to protect the negotiations’ integrity. So I don’t think it’s useful, helpful, or possible to provide any timeline on an agreement taking place,” he said.
“The truce will take place when it’ll take place. We’ll announce it at that time, but right now, we remain committed to the process (talks),” added the official.
Responding to another question about the Gaza ceasefire deal talks in Doha, Al Ansari said the technical delegations were meeting permanently either in Doha or in Cairo.
He said it was not possible to make any predictions. “We’re trying as much as possible to remove the negativity of the negotiation process to ensure its success for the delegations.”
“No matter how difficult conditions are inside the negotiation room, the efforts are still being made. If there’s something that requires announcing in the coming days, it’ll of course be done directly.”
Responding to questions about supporting Syria, Al Ansari reiterated Qatar’s position in support of Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and independence, and the realization of the aspirations of its brotherly people to build their state.
“Qatar’s focus is currently on ensuring continued stability in Syria, supporting the independence of the Syrian people and achieving their aspirations.”
He said the air bridge operated by Qatar to provide relief to the Syrian brothers will continue working.
“The eighth plane of the Qatari Armed Forces arrived at Damascus International Airport on Monday, carrying about 23 tonnes of aid, including food and shelter supplies provided by the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Charity, bringing the total aid provided to the Syrian brothers so far to 231 tonnes,” he said.
He further said that the first commercial plane arrived at Damascus International Airport on Tuesday. The Qatar Airways flight, which took off yesterday morning from Doha with 200 people on board, was the first commercial flight to the Syrian capital after being suspended since the beginning of the Syrian revolution.
He added that Qatar Airways would resume its flights to Syria at a rate of three flights per week, on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays of each week.
Regarding the US administration’s decision to suspend some sanctions imposed on Syria, Al Ansari explained that Qatar welcomes the measure, as well as any step that would facilitate the delivery of aid and support to Syrians.
“This step is partial, and we hope the sanctions will be lifted permanently,” he said, expressing hope that the international community would seek to permanently lift sanctions on Syria, calling on international institutions to work and cooperate to ensure the resumption of normal life in Syria.
He said that Qatar supports the transformations taking place in Syria, as long as they are Syrian transformations.
“We dealt positively with the new Syrian administration, which has said in more than one context that it wants to create a new Syria in the image that represents the aspirations of the Syrian people.”
---
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
X - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
