Media Center

Doha – 13  October 2023

 HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani affirmed that since the first day of the confrontations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, the State of Qatar has been keen to reduce escalation and calm down with aim to reach a complete cessation of the fighting in order to stop the bloodshed and prevent the region from sliding into a wider cycle of violence the price of which is paid by the peoples of the region who are exhausted by wars and conflicts. 
During a press conference this evening with HE Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken, His Excellency said that the State of Qatar's priorities in its diplomatic actions are to seek an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, release prisoners and work to limit the expansion of violence and the cycle of conflict in the region, which will have serious consequences if it expands. 
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the State of Qatar's firm position in condemning all forms of targeting civilians, and that killing innocent civilians, especially women and children, and practicing the policy of collective punishment are unacceptable, and that condemnations must be for all parties and not one of them as is the case with some. 
His Excellency added that his meeting today in Doha with the US Secretary of State comes under critical and unfortunate circumstances with the continued escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Gaza and Israel. "We are all following these developments with great sadness and concern." He said that he exchanged views with the US side on ways to open humanitarian corridors to ensure the delivery of relief and aid to the Palestinian brothers who are under bombardment, especially in light of the deteriorating conditions in the Gaza Strip. 
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani pointed to the tragic situation in Gaza, including the shortage of basic materials and the outage of electricity and water as a result of the airstrikes on the Strip. "Everyone realizes that we are facing a difficult reality and a stage that require concerted efforts and endeavors," he said, stressing that there is a need to strengthen efforts with allies and partners, especially the United States of America, in order to calm the situation and spare civilians the consequences of these confrontations. 
"We are certain that the only way to reach a peaceful and immediate solution to this crisis is to keep all channels of communication open with all concerned parties, and that resolving this crisis requires continuous and intensive cooperation," His Excellency said, while valuing the regional, international and international efforts to reduce the escalation. 
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs continued: "We, in the State of Qatar, firmly believe in mediation and dialogue, which is part of our foreign policy. We have always sought to keep channels of communication open with various parties in various arenas of conflict, which has contributed to consolidating our international position as a reliable partner in peacemaking." In the meantime, His Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar's commitment to its role as a partner in peacemaking and a mediator in resolving conflicts should not be used to harm its reputation by leveling accusations that were proven to be false and the bad faith of its promoters exposed. 
His Excellency also stressed that the absence of a just solution to the Palestinian cause will always accompany the absence of peace in this region, calling on the international community to put pressure towards achieving a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue within the framework of the Arab initiative that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and that the Palestinian brothers get their rights permanently. 
His Excellency expressed his aspiration to continue working with partners in the United States of America and support efforts aimed at reducing the escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel and enhancing the security and stability of the region. 

Regarding Qatari contacts to find a solution to the Palestinian crisis, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that: When the crisis began, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and I established many contacts with many regional and international officials. He added there are specific goals at this stage namely to seek de-escalation of the situation, hoping that the war will stop and humanitarian corridors will be secured to pass aid to Gaza as well as the issue of civilian prisoners that we are working with our partners for their return to their families in the end.
His Excellency explained that the State of Qatar's role focuses on finding solutions to this crisis, stopping its expansion, and preventing the conflict from expanding or engaging on other fronts, and its priorities today focus on stopping the fighting on the ground, delivering humanitarian aid and the return of prisoners to their countries. 
Regarding the Hamas office in Doha, His Excellency stressed that this office has been used from the beginning a channel of communication and a means to bring peace to the region, and this is its purpose, pointing out that the State of Qatar always keeps the channels of communication open and focuses on putting an end to this conflict, and this will remain the focus in the coming period. 
His Excellency continued by saying: We are now working in Qatar, and I believe that the US shares this goal with us, to put an end to this conflict and on how to reduce the escalation and return the prisoners safe. 
Regarding the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the return of the prisoners, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that it is too early to make judgments about the results of this war, but we hope that all the detained prisoners will return and that there will be positive prospects... and we are doing everything in our power for their safe release. 
With regard to the Israeli response in Gaza, we have seen the amount of destruction. Half of Gaza has been destroyed so far, and the number of people affected by this attack is very big, and they are human beings whether they are Palestinians or Israelis. It is very painful. 
His Excellency continued by saying: We would like to see international law applied and that the same international standards are applied as in other wars. We are trying to keep channels of communication open in order to alleviate human suffering and to move forward with humanitarian corridors or even deliver aid. We cannot deprive the people of Gaza of access to water, electricity, medicine, and basic means of life, and we believe in the seriousness of this matter. 
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his concern about the continued absence of political prospects for the Palestinians, adding, "Unfortunately, this matter will continue, so we need to focus on how to cooperate to give hope in developing solutions to their cause." In a question regarding the Iranian funds deposited in Qatar as a result of the Iranian-American agreement that was brokered by Qatar, His Excellency said that the State of Qatar is committed to any agreement to which it is a party and no step will be taken without consulting the rest of the parties, adding that these funds will be used in accordance with the agreement concluded with the United States and Iran. 
For his part, HE Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken said that he held constructive talks with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as well as with HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani. 
His Excellency expressed his country's gratitude for cooperation with the State of Qatar on many issues. Qatar, he said, is a reliable partner and has always been a close partner to the United States of America in many initiatives. We have worked together in returning Americans from Afghanistan and have also cooperated in humanitarian cases such as the earthquake in Turkiye and northern Syria. 
HE the US Secretary of State added that his meetings in Doha come at a difficult and important time in the region, noting that his country is currently working with the State of Qatar to prevent the expansion of the crisis. 
He continued by saying that they discussed all the details to prevent any party from expanding this crisis, and that they are also working to secure the release of prisoners, including American citizens, in cooperation with the State of Qatar and various allies and partners in the region. 
In this context, His Excellency renewed his country's appreciation for the work undertaken by the State of Qatar to secure the release of prisoners. He said, "We highly appreciate this work and it is appreciated by many countries."