Media Center

Doha| December 07, 2024

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that momentum has returned to negotiations aimed at reaching a truce and exchanging hostages in the Gaza Strip after the US elections.

At a dialogue session titled 'Conflict Resolution in a New Era' within the activities of the 22nd Doha Forum, which kicked off today, His Excellency said that they felt after the US elections that momentum was returning to the path of negotiations .. and there is much encouragement from the next US administration to reach an agreement, even before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. He added that this prompted them to return to the path and put the negotiations back on track, noting that they resumed their activity in the negotiations in the past weeks.

His Excellency said that there will be some differences in the approach of the administration of President Joe Biden and that of President Trump to certain issues and matters. This approach affects the decisions taken and what happens on the ground. However, we have not noticed any differences or rejection by the new administration regarding the main goal, which is to end the war in Gaza, he added.

While referring to many fluctuations that the negotiations have witnessed since the beginning of the war, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said a deal was reached on November 23, 2023, under which 109 Israeli hostages and 15 foreign hostages were released in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners. Since then, the same process and the same framework have continued. Discussions within this framework have continued until today.

He added that they went through several stages during the negotiation process, in which this process was exploited for political reasons by one party or another, and they went through a lot of scrutiny and examination because one party or another tried to score political points.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani pointed out that the momentum of the negotiations had slackened significantly in the last days before the US elections in particular, and they did not feel a real will or readiness to reach a conclusion to the events that were sweeping the Strip. At that moment the State of Qatar decided to take a step back similar to what it did last April to see if there was a possibility of regaining this momentum.

His Excellency stressed that this issue affects many people, whether the residents of Gaza or the families of the hostages. Unfortunately, and given the way things were managed during this year and the exposure of all these details to the public, raising the level of hope among these innocent people had negative effects because we felt frustrated every time as a result of these disappointments.
That's why we're focused on achieving meaningful results, and what we expect and hope for is that we reach results as soon as possible, His Excellency said, adding that all parties have a real will to deal with things in good faith.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the gaps and points of difference between Hamas and Israel are not big and are not of a magnitude that would affect the negotiations. He added: The question is simple: Is there a will to end the war? Yes or no? And is there a will to reach an exchange deal? Yes or no? Two simple questions and two simple answers.

Regarding the developments in Syria, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that there were two main factors related to what is taking place today in Syria. The first factor was expected given the current events in Gaza, noting that the State of Qatar warned against the expansion of the conflict and the consequences of the war in Gaza on the entire region.

He continued by saying that they have noticed the expansion of this situation and the extension of this conflict, whether to Lebanon, the Red Sea, or other areas within the Middle East, expressing his belief that it is wrong to consider that Syria is immune to this conflict.

His Excellency explained that the second factor is related to ignoring the situation in Syria, adding that there was a golden opportunity during the period when the fighting calmed down but this opportunity was not seized, for Bashar al-Assad to begin correcting his relationship with his people, and that they did not notice any serious movement, whether regarding the return of refugees or displaced persons or reconciliation.

His Excellency continued by saying that everyone in the world was surprised by the events witnessed in the past few days, and surprised by the speed of progress achieved by the opposition in Syria. This situation may develop and its danger may increase, he added, expressing concern about the escalation of the situation and the return of internal violence and civil war that threaten the territorial integrity of the Syrian state. 

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that the current situation could undoubtedly destroy what remains of Syria, unless all parties act responsibly and quickly to establish the necessary framework to address this issue politically and reach a sustainable solution.

On Qatar's role and the ongoing debate regarding it, His Excellency said that some politicians do not understand the nature of Qatar's position, in reference to the country's relations with Iran and its hosting of the Taliban and Hamas offices in Doha, on which His Excellency said that these parties are part of the region's fabric, with all challenges being faced currently emanating from either states or non-state actors, which have become central players and key contributors to instability in the region.   

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that none of the region's conflicts over the past 30 to 40 years were resolved on the battlefield, rather they do so following a de-escalation and the establishment of communication channels, therefore, His Excellency asked, if Qatar will not talk to all sides, who will.

His Excellency added that Qatar's role is to ensure the stability of the region and that of its own, for which it needs to deal with all sides, work for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and ensure a better future for the region.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar acts with full transparency when it comes to contacting and establishing certain offices, which result from negotiations and agreements that are secret to no one. 

His Excellency added that the Hamas office was not there to plan for October 7, nor did October 7, happen because of the office's existence, rather it happened because of other factors and that the office's existence actually helped prevent several wars and instability. 

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the office serves as a communication channel, something that the United States administration understand very well and on which both countries coordinate. 

His Excellency said that some politicians may not be aware of these facts, which is why Qatar has the responsibility of clarifying its stance.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar is a platform that brings different parties and factions together and is keen on communication, yet it cannot be expected to impose solutions on these parties.

His Excellency stressed that the primary threat to the Middle East is a security one, something to which a resolution has yet to be found, with conflicts expanding rather than being contained or resolved.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar's approach in dealing with issues more effectively is based on compartmentalization and prioritization based on urgency.

His Excellency said that when it comes to joint action vis-a-vis issues such as those pertaining to climate or food security, regional regional platforms such as the Gulf Cooperation Council are more effective.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that it is important that international law is applied to all conflicts equally, pointing out that the people of the region perceive that many countries that are champions of international law shy away from what is happening in the region and instead focus on Ukraine only.

His Excellency said that these countries deal with what is happening in the region in reference to a historical dimension, which is very well known here, yet this cannot be used to excuse the killing of civilians.

At the onset of his speech, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the critical moment in the region's history in which the Doha Forum 2024 is taking place, starting from the Gaza Strip and beyond.