Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, announced today, Tuesday, that "communications are ongoing to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate aid to the sector," affirming that "the principles outlined in U.S. President Joe Biden's speech encompass the demands of all parties." He stated, "There are no clear positions yet from the Israeli and Palestinian sides regarding Biden's proposal."
The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman believes that "the principles mentioned in Biden's speech will alleviate the suffering of Gaza residents and the Israeli hostages." He pointed out that "the five-party virtual meeting held yesterday, Monday, emphasized the necessity of halting the aggression and withdrawing the occupation," adding that "as an international community, we need to exert pressure on both sides to accept the proposal."
Al-Ansari stressed that "the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza should be a sufficient reason to reach an agreement," stating, "Escalation on the ground will not bring back the hostages or protect civilian lives." He noted that "Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has made contacts with regional and international parties regarding Gaza."
**Biden's Proposal**
Biden proposed a three-phase ceasefire in Gaza, primarily aimed at halting the fire between Israel and Hamas, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza. The international community welcomed the proposal announced, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres encouraging "all parties to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire," while French President Emmanuel Macron called for "lasting peace" in the region.
