Qatar is actively working to leverage the momentum from this week’s ceasefire between Israel and Iran to facilitate a truce in Gaza, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari.
Following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, brokered by the United States and Qatar on Tuesday, which came after an Iranian missile attack targeting a U.S. military base in Qatar, the country is now focusing on restarting talks for Gaza. Ansari emphasized that this “window of opportunity” created by the ceasefire must be utilized to avoid missing another chance for peace.
Ansari, in an interview with AFP on Friday, explained that Qatar, along with mediators from Washington and Cairo, is working to reinvigorate the peace process in Gaza. He cautioned that if the current momentum is not seized, it would be another lost opportunity.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope on Friday that an agreement between Israel and Hamas could be reached as early as next week. However, Ansari noted that although no direct talks are currently happening between Israel and Hamas, Qatar is maintaining close communication with all sides.
In previous negotiations, such as the truce agreed in January, U.S. pressure played a key role in securing agreements, including the release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners. Ansari stated that similar pressure from the U.S. could lead to a renewed truce in Gaza, and Qatar is working closely with the U.S. to apply the right diplomatic pressure to bring both parties to the table.
While the Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid base in Qatar resulted in no casualties, Ansari noted that Qatar chose not to escalate the situation, opting instead to focus on peace efforts due to the possibility of regional stability.
