The US State Department said that Secretary Anthony Blinken discussed, in a call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe return of all remaining detainees in the Gaza Strip and increase aid to civilians in the Strip.
The State Department added – in a statement – that Blinken reiterated his gratitude for Qatar’s partnership and its decisive efforts to secure the release of detainees in Gaza and reach the last humanitarian truce in the Strip.
For its part, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said – in a statement – that during the call he received from Blinken, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani reviewed the latest developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip and ways to reduce the escalation and ceasefire.
The statement explained that the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister assured Blinken of the State of Qatar’s commitment to its mediation partners and the continuation of efforts to return to calm.
He also stressed that the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip after the end of the truce complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.
During the call, the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister confirmed to the US Secretary of State Qatar’s firm position on condemning all forms of targeting civilians and the practice of collective punishment. He stressed the need to open humanitarian corridors to ensure that relief and aid reach the Palestinians stranded under bombardment.
On December 1, a 7-day humanitarian truce ended between the Palestinian resistance factions and Israel. It was concluded through Qatari mediation with Egyptian-American support, during which prisoners were exchanged and humanitarian aid was brought into the Strip, which is inhabited by about 2.3 million Palestinians.
The truce temporarily stopped a devastating war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip, since October 7, which left tens of thousands of civilian casualties, most of them children and women, and massive destruction of infrastructure, in addition to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.
