Qatar’s prime minister has warned that the nearly two‑month‑old ceasefire in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered complete until Israeli forces fully withdraw under a peace plan backed by Washington and the United Nations.
By Nathan Morley
Qatar’s prime minister said Saturday the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered complete until Israeli forces withdraw under a peace plan backed by Washington and the United Nations.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Doha Forum that U.S.-led mediators are working “to force the way forward” into a second phase of the deal.
“What we have just done is a pause,” he said. “We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire.”
He said the truce will not be finalized unless Israeli forces leave Gaza, stability returns and people can move freely.
The ceasefire halted heavy fighting in the two-year war, but Gaza health officials say more than 360 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October.
On Friday, foreign ministers from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar voiced concern over Israeli remarks suggesting the Rafah Crossing be opened only one way, to move Gaza residents into Egypt.
In a joint statement, they rejected any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians and urged adherence to the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which they said requires the crossing to remain open in both directions.
The Rafah Crossing has been mostly closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side. Before that, it was Gaza’s main exit and a key entry point for humanitarian aid.
