Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that Israel should have already halted its military operations in Gaza, in line with US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
“Regarding the ceasefire, this question should be directed first to the Israeli occupation government,” Ansari told reporters in Doha. “It was supposed to actually cease fire if the statements made by the prime minister there regarding adherence to the Trump plan were true.”
His comments come as Hamas and Israelwhereindirect talks in Egypt this week to discuss the US-backed proposal, which aims to end the Gaza conflict and establish a framework for post-war governance.
After Hamas agreed on Friday to discuss releasing hostages under the plan, President Trump had publicly urged Israel to stop its offensive, posting on Truth Social:
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly!”
Ansari expressed cautious optimism about the Egypt peace talks, saying:
“I have no doubt that this round of negotiations is a process in which all parties are strongly committed to reaching a consensus, but there are many details to consider.”
He added that the plan’s clauses “require practical interpretation on the ground, which of course requires communication with all parties.”
When asked about the future of Hamas’s political bureau in Doha, Ansari said it was still “early” to discuss the matter, following last month’s Israeli strikes that targeted the group’s leadership in Qatar.
“As long as there is a need for a channel of communication with Hamas, there is a need for this,” he said, emphasizing Qatar’s ongoing role as a mediator.
Meanwhile, two sources close to the Palestinian negotiating team told AFP that the in, with discussions lasting four hours on Monday night and scheduled to resume around midday Tuesday in Sharm El- Sheikh.
