Qatar working to bridge gaps in Gaza ceasefire talks: Al Ansari

Qatar Tribune

3 days ago

Hanane Djoua
Doha
Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has affirmed that the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, currently hosted by Doha, aim to bridge the gap between the two parties regarding the negotiating framework.
'Both the Palestinian and Israeli delegations are in Doha, and discussions are currently under way with each delegation separately, with the aim of creating anappropriate environment for agreement on key issues between the two sides,' Dr Al Ansari said during the weekly media briefing on Tuesday.
He said separate discussions are being held with each side in an effort to bridge the gap between them. The focus, he said, is on establishing a 'negotiation framework'—a document that precedes official talks. This framework would serve as a foundation for agreement on core issues before entering the final phase of negotiations.
'The negotiations are still ongoing, and it is too early to provide impressions about their outcome. But we can say that the discussions are continuing, and the parties are present and engaged here in Doha.'
Dr ‏Al Ansari expressed appreciation for the role of the United States in supporting the mediation efforts and noted that both the Qatari and Egyptian mediation teams are working around the clock in Doha in pursuit of a viable negotiation framework. He added that there is still hope surrounding the current efforts.
Dr ‏Al Ansari also addressed reports of statements made by Israeli officials regarding plans for the displacement of Palestinians, reiterating Qatar's clear and longstanding opposition to any such actions. He stressed that Qatar is against any forced transfer of Palestinians, whether outside or within their homeland.
‏'Palestinians, like any people in the world, have the right to exist where their land lies,' he said, referencing international law.
He called on the international community to support Qatar's position and noted that there is widespread international rejection of any attempts to remove Palestinians from Gaza. 'This is their land,' he said.
Dr Al Ansari clarified that the discussions currently under way do not represent the start of formal negotiations but are aimed at agreeing on a framework to reduce the time needed for actual talks once they begin.
'We are still in the framework stage,' he noted. 'That's why we are discussing principles that will allow the negotiations to be more efficient. It is too early to speak about where the negotiations will lead, but there is engagement from both sides.'
‏He stressed that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation teams continue their work with the goal of building consensus around the framework. 'This process needs time,' he said. 'We are working around the clock, but it's too soon to provide a timeframe.'
Dr ‏Al Ansari affirmed that the ultimate goal of the mediation efforts is to end the war and the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. He explained that the document under discussion is an agreed framework for the negotiations, not a final agreement. It includes the conditions for a ceasefire and the guarantees required to ensure that the truce leads to positive outcomes.
‏'We are not yet talking about a final agreement,' he said. 'We are focusing on the ceasefire and what it could lead to in terms of resuming talks toward a lasting solution to this humanitarian catastrophe.'
‏Turning to the Afghan file, Dr Al Ansari confirmed that Qatar continues to communicate with the caretaker government in Afghanistan and maintains confidence in its role supporting the Afghan people. He reviewed Qatar's contributions to peace and stability in Afghanistan, including the mediation between the Taliban and the United States that led to the US troop withdrawal, representation of foreign missions including American interests in Kabul, and the hosting of meetings between UN envoys and Afghan officials in Doha.
‏He emphasized that the question of recognition is a sovereign matter and part of broader international understandings, with each country free to handle it as it sees fit. He said Qatar welcomes the security and stability measures taken by the Afghan caretaker government but acknowledged there are still areas of ongoing discussion. Qatar continues its role as a mediator between the Afghan authorities and the international community.
‏'There is currently no new information regarding formal recognition or natural resumption of Egyptian relations,' he said. 'However, there is a functioning Afghan mission in Doha, and we hope to strengthen ties with the caretaker government and the Afghan people.'
‏Dr ‏Al Ansari referenced recent statements by US President Donald Trump supporting progress in the Gaza talks and affirmed that Qatar builds on this through joint mediation with the United States. However, he clarified that issues beyond the scope of mediation—such as bilateral matters between Israel and the US—do not fall within Qatar's role, except where they directly relate to the American stance on mediation.
‏He stated that the ongoing Gaza negotiations in Doha are now in their third day and that both delegations remain present in the country. While no timeline can yet be given, he described the presence of the delegations and their engagement as positive.
‏'This is still the early phase,' he said, cautioning against premature expectations. 'Mediation is, by definition, a difficult process. We are sitting between two sides in the context of an ongoing war.'
‏Nonetheless, the fact that both parties are engaging seriously and remain in Doha, he concluded, is itself a positive development.