Qatar: Continuous Bombing Complicates Efforts to Secure Hostage Release

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed today, Saturday, that "the ongoing bombing of the Gaza Strip complicates its efforts to mediate the release of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)." It added in a statement that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated during a meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, that the continued bombing exacerbates the humanitarian disaster in the region and complicates securing the release of hostages. He also emphasized "the necessity of regional and international diplomatic efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and to permanently open the Rafah crossing to ensure the flow of relief and humanitarian aid to Gaza."