The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has called for serious ceasefire efforts to stop what he described as Israel’s “aggression” against Lebanon.
Speaking at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha, the Emir said that no peace is possible in the region unless there is the formation of a Palestinian state.
Qatar has, since 7 October 2023, acted as a broker alongside Egypt and the US in trying to organise a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel.
A limited ceasefire and the release of some hostages was achieved towards the end of last year, but negotiations over the last ten months have proved fruitless.
Several prominent members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition have openly said they are against a two-state solution, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich having said that it is his “life’s mission” to thwart the creation of a Palestinian state, and that he is actively working to ensure the occupied West Bank is permanently annexed to Israel.
Al-Thani also criticized Israel’s deadly operations in the Gaza Strip.
“The world is still witnessing a dangerous escalation of the war waged by the Israeli occupation authorities against our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
“It has become crystal clear that what is happening is a genocide, in addition to transforming the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human habitation in preparation for forced displacement.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
Moreover, he renewed his country’s rejection and condemnation of the air strikes and escalating Israeli military operations on Lebanon that has “claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians and displaced over one million citizens.”
“We have previously warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable as it commits crimes against humanity and refuses to implement international resolutions to end the occupation,” he stated.
Israel’s Diplomatic Arm Paralysed
Alon Liel, a former Director-General of Israel’s foreign ministry told a news agency that while he believes diplomatic options are available to Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, “the diplomatic arm was paralysed and not used – maybe intentionally.”
He noted that he would advise the Israeli government “to start working with its diplomatic arm tool,” not only with the military one.
According to him, the past year, especially the last few weeks in Lebanon, has proven that Israel has a solid and sometimes effective military arm, but this is the time to think about “the other arm.”
“A sad thing happened to the Israeli public because of the last year and the feeling here is that the whole world is against us, that the whole world is anti-Semite, especially the United Nations,” Liel lamented, adding that “this was a terrible mistake” directed and encouraged by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We will not be able to stabilise the situation and live here safely without the support and assistance of the world,” he said.
Also, Liel stated that the prospect of a protracted conflict in the region has its population worried.
“We are celebrating our New Year and everybody is [evaluating] the year that passed – what happened to us and to the region – and the general mood is quite gloomy.
“Most Israelis will admit this year has weakened Israel socially, economically, maybe even militarily, and nobody benefits from such a war.”
Alon Liel
Commenting on the announced ground offensive in southern Lebanon, he said the Israeli public believes this will be a rapid operation, but such military undertakings “have a nature of their own and can deteriorate.”
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