Qatar’s PM stressed the urgent need to end the famine in Gaza during his press conference in Egypt. Despite Hamas agreeing to the truce, Israel has not responded, worsening a blockade that has caused a man-made famine affecting thousands, including children.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has called on the international community to act swiftly and hold Israel accountable for the humanitarian catastrophe currently unfolding in Gaza.
“Today, the international community faces a significant responsibility to uphold its duty and put an end to this famine and blockade affecting our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” Sheikh Mohammed said during a joint press conference with the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, in Cairo.
The Qatari Prime Minister travelled to Egypt on Thursday for the sixth session of the Joint Higher Committee meeting between the two countries, where talks focused on the activation of a $7.5bn (approximately QAR 27.4bn) investment package, regional issues and ongoing mediation efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Sheikh Mohammed said that bilateral relations have developed significantly in recent years, with cooperation extending beyond economic factors.
The visit comes just a week after Sheikh Mohammed’s previous visit to Egypt, where he met President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss and push for a ceasefire in Gaza to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“Qatar and Egypt remain committed to achieving a resolution and ending this war, despite all attempts to distort and undermine these efforts. Preliminary agreement would not have been reached without these efforts,” he said regarding the ongoing efforts.
On Thursday, Sheikh Mohammed commended both the Egyptian and Qatari delegations for their “tireless” efforts in the face of the “international community’s failure to fulfil its responsibilities” over Israel’s actions in the besieged strip.
“Over the past several days, we have worked intensively to reach common ground that could pave the way for an agreement between Hamas and Israel, encompassing a ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners, and the release of detainees, ultimately leading to an end to the war,” Qatar’s PM-FM said.
Although Hamas recently accepted a truce plan brokered by Qatar and Egypt for a 60-day ceasefire proposal, Israel has yet to respond. Instead, it has intensified the relentless assault, while advancing plans to occupy Gaza.
“These efforts have been met with continued disregard from the Israeli side,” he added.
Qatar and Egypt, alongside the United States, have acted as mediators since the onset of Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023.
The mediation efforts led to a one-week truce in November 2023 as well as a phased ceasefire in January 2024, which Israel unilaterally broke on March 18 by refusing to withdraw from Gaza and halting aid entry.
The resulting blockade has plunged the besieged enclave into a man-made famine with at least 303, more than a third of them children, starved to death. The United Nations has warned that the effects of the “man-made famine” will only worsen.
Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 62,966 people, mainly women and children, with the toll understood to be an undercount as thousands are still trapped under rubble.
Sheikh Mohammed also criticised Israel over its attacks on Syria and Lebanon, deeming the action “irresponsible” that could hamper the overall stability of the region.
“Regrettably, we are witnessing irresponsible Israeli actions in Lebanon and Syria, which undermine regional security,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “Unfortunately, have not been met with any deterrent measures.”
