Qatar says efforts to renew Gaza cease-fire ‘continuing’

Doha, Qatar – AFP

Mediation efforts are continuing to secure a new Gaza cease-fire and free more prisoners held by Hamas despite ongoing Israeli bombardment that is “narrowing the window” for a successful outcome, Qatar’s prime minister said Sunday.

“Our efforts as the state of Qatar along with our partners are continuing. We are not going to give up,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Doha Forum, adding that “the continuation of the bombardment is just narrowing this window for us”.

Israel declared war on Hamas after the group killed 1,200 people and took 240 prisoners, according to Israeli figures, in an unprecedented attack on October 7.

The Israeli offensive has killed at least 17,700 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry, many of them women and children.

Qatar was a key mediator in negotiations that resulted in a seven-day suspension of the war by Israel, which saw scores of Israeli prisoners exchanged for Palestinians prisoners and humanitarian aid, until it ended at the start of the month.

“We are going to continue, we are committed to have hostages released, but we are also committed to stop the war,” Qatar’s prime minister said.

But, he added, “we are not seeing the same willingness from both parties”.