Qatar engaging with Trump team on Gaza ceasefire

Qatar is actively engaging with the incoming Trump administration regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, following increased momentum for peace talks after the US election, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.

The conflict in Gaza has now entered its 15th month, leaving much of the region devastated and over 44,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza's health authorities, as Israeli forces continue their efforts to eliminate Hamas and rescue hostages taken by the militant group, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In a statement, Al Thani confirmed that Donald Trump's Middle East envoy had visited both Qatar and Israel to initiate the president-elect’s diplomatic push for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement before his inauguration on January 20.

"We have seen significant encouragement from the incoming administration to secure a deal even before the President takes office, which has motivated us to accelerate efforts and get things back on track. We have been in talks over the past couple of weeks," Al Thani said during a conference in Doha.

Steve Witkoff, who is set to officially assume his role as Trump's envoy, met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Al Thani in late November to discuss the ceasefire and hostage situation.

Trump made his return to the global stage on December 7, attending the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, though it was unclear whether he would meet with other world leaders beyond French President Emmanuel Macron.

Commenting further, Al Thani stated that Qatar has reaffirmed its role as a neutral mediator in global crisis situations, emphasizing that it does not impose solutions on conflicting parties.

"Qatar serves as a platform for dialogue among various parties. We bring everyone together not just to sit at the negotiating table, but to ensure they maintain ongoing communication. However, we must not impose any solutions on them," the Prime Minister said.

Qatar continues to position itself as a key facilitator in international mediation efforts, prioritizing dialogue and mutual cooperation over imposing resolutions.

By Vafa Guliyeva