DOHA: Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the crisis in the Gaza Strip, especially after the issuance of the Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, which is an opportunity for more diplomatic pressure to reach for a positive outcome in negotiations.
In the weekly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday, Dr Al Ansari welcomed this decision and any international or regional diplomatic initiative that would put an end to this horrific conflict and help in the negotiating process, expressing his hope that this decision would accelerate putting an end to the conflict and would be useful to all the diplomatic front, and to have a positive impact on the negotiations.
He pointed out the importance of the partners interacting with him, relying primarily on negotiations, especially since the decision represents a positive pressure tool to reach an agreement, adding that Qatari efforts are continuing, mediation with the partners is in constant session, and negotiations and meetings have not stopped.
He pointed out that international diplomatic efforts are complementary to each other, and that the decision itself confirms the position of the international community on the issue, and represents a tool for diplomatic pressure, as it is not a quick field measure, but rather there is a case in the International Criminal Court, a Security Council resolution and resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, and these efforts are important in dealing with the Palestinian issue, as conflicts can only be dealt with through diplomatic efforts and negotiations, which is Qatar’s permanent position.
Regarding the withdrawal of one of the delegations from the ongoing negotiations in Doha regarding Gaza, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the meetings are in full swing and have not been interrupted, the negotiations are continuing, and the discussions are ongoing, and the entry and exit of delegations and their return to their capitals to reach certain agreements is normal and a natural movement in such negotiations. He noted that during the negotiation process, there will be new and updated ideas and responses from the parties and the re-presentation of ideas and initiatives.
Regarding Qatari support for UNRWA, Dr Al Ansari stressed that there is no alternative to it, not only in Gaza, but in all areas of its presence (Jordan, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza), especially since the need is now urgent, and we as an international community cannot come up with an alternative to it if funding declines, canceled or dismantled, noting that Qatar has increased its funding and is committed to supporting it out of belief in the role of this ancient organization in providing services to our brothers in the occupied territories.
Regarding the waterway initiative to bring aid into Gaza, Dr Al Ansari explained that it is not an alternative to land corridors and other channels for bringing aid in. There is no alternative to one channel without another because one form of bringing aid will not be sufficient in light of the catastrophic humanitarian situation there, stressing that this corridor was created specifically to bring aid in and is purely humanitarian and has no other role.
Regarding the Sudanese issue, Dr Al Ansari explained that Qatar has been a supporter of the 'Jeddah Platform'since the first day, supports its outputs and the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this regard, and continues its supportive position for the return of discussions through this platform, stressing that the humanitarian situation in Sudan has reached a dangerous phase, and humanitarian reports raise concern not at the level of the natural state of the conflict, but at the level of the general humanitarian situation. The Qatari humanitarian effort has been intensified during recent weeks, calling at the same time on the international community to pay attention to the Sudanese issue and not neglect it in the context of multiple tragedies regionally and internationally.
The official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviewed the efforts of the Ministry and its officials, their meetings and participation in regional and international events, including Qatar issuing a statement in which it welcomed the Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the long-awaited month of Ramadan, which represents an opportunity to urge all parties to end this conflict as soon as possible.
He stated that Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani participated in a meeting of foreign ministers from six Arab countries and America, held in Cairo, to discuss the latest developments in the region, and to emphasize the common Arab position on the necessity of a ceasefire, the introduction of aid, and a reduction in escalation in the situation. The prime minister also participated in a coordination meeting of the six Arab countries to unify positions, which comes within the framework of continuous and permanent coordination between the Arab countries.
He noted the visit of Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs, to Doha, and his meeting with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and with HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation, within the framework of discussing the arrival of aid to the Gaza Strip, and developments in the humanitarian situation there.
Dr Al Ansari added that in continuation of the humanitarian air bridge to the Gaza Strip, HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation, will arrive on Tuesday, at the head of a Qatari delegation to the Egyptian city of Al Arish on board a plane carrying 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid and food supplies to the Strip, and to inspect Qatari warehouses to return them. That will bring the total number of aircraft to 87 aircraft which secured the transport of 2,600 tonnes of aid.
Regarding Qatari aid to the Republic of Sudan, Dr Al Ansari stated that a third plane arrived in the city of Port Sudan less than a week from the air bridge, carrying 40 tonnes of aid, bringing the total number of planes to 16 planes, all of which carried 1,966 tonnes of humanitarian aid.
The official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out the success of the mediation ofQatar in reuniting a new batch of children with their families as part of its efforts to reunite families separated due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as the Embassy of Qatar in Moscow hosted the children and facilitated their safe departure to Ukraine, while Qatar facilitated representatives of Qatar ensure the safe departure of children from Ukraine to Russia via Belarus, bringing the total number of children brought together by Qatar to 29.
