Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has disclosed that US negotiators will meet Israeli negotiators in Doha in an effort to reach a breakthrough in ceasefire discusions.
This came as he spoke during the press conference alongside US Secretary of state, Antony Blinken after holding talks.
Al Thani noted that the mediators have “re-engaged” with Hamas following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, saying, “We had some meetings with them in the last couple of days. I believe that until now, there is no clarity what will be the way forward,” he stated.
He said that the US, Qatar and Egypt continue their efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. “This painful period in the region should come to an end,” he added.
On his part, US Secretary of state, Antony Blinken said that he anticipates negotiators will get together “in the coming days.”
Blinken said that he and At Thani discussed options to capitalise on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and move the abortive negotiations forward.
He said that the two partners were seeking a plan “so that Israel can withdraw, so that Hamas cannot reconstitute, and so that the Palestinian people can rebuild their lives and rebuild their futures.”
“This is a moment to work to end this war, to make sure all the hostages are home, and to build a better future for people in Gaza.”
Antony Blinken
When asked whether negotiators are looking at new formulas, Blinken replied, “One of the things we’re doing is looking at whether there are different options that we can pursue to get to a conclusion.”
“We’re talking to the other mediators in Egypt and Qatar about that, and this is something that the [US and Israeli] negotiators will discuss when they get together.”
“We haven’t yet really determined whether Hamas is prepared to engage, but the next step is getting the negotiators together … we’ll certainly learn more in the coming days.”
Antony Blinken
Blinken Announces Additional $135m In Aid To Palestinians
US Secretary of state, Antony Blinken announced another $135m in US aid as he called again for a ceasefire in Gaza. “Today, we’re announcing an additional $135m in humanitarian assistance, water sanitation, internal health for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in the region,” Blinken announced, saying that it brought the US total to $1.2bn since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
Blinken noted that Israel has made some progress in allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza since he and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent their Israeli counterparts a letter warning that continued US offensive weaponry is at risk if Jerusalem doesn’t take significant steps to address the humanitarian crisis in the Strip within 30 days.
However, he stressed that much more must be done by Israel.
Pressed on the so-called Israeli “General’s Plan” that envisioned the IDF laying siege to northern Gaza, Blinken stated that the US fully and firmly rejects it “[and that] the government of Israel says that it is not the policy of israel and rejects the plan.”
Blinken had reportedly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly reject the plan during their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, but the Premier didn’t do so.
Asked about the anticipated Israeli response to Hamas’s October 1 missile attack, Blinken asserted that the US supports Israel’s right to defend itself and is coordinating with Jerusalem in order to deter Iran.
However, he added that the US does not want Israel’s response to lead to further escalation in the region.
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