On 28 November 2023, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that Qatar is exerting continuous and diligent efforts within the framework of its mediation to reach an extension of the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel over the next 48 hours.
During the weekly press briefing, the spokesperson stated that 20 Israeli hostages would be released, highlighting that the extension of the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for an additional two days came under the same previous conditions, where it was agreed upon to release a minimum of 10 Israeli hostages daily.
He pointed out that Qatar, through its mediation efforts, is working towards reaching a permanent agreement for a ceasefire, especially since the extension reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides was based on an annex to the agreement indicating an extension of these days based on Hamas's commitment to releasing 10 hostages for each additional day of the pause.
Dr. Al Ansari also discussed the first four days of the pause, during which Israel released 150 prisoners and Hamas released 69 hostages, with 50 of them being part of the agreement between the two parties and 19 released outside the agreement. He explained that on the first day of the pause, 39 women and children were released from Israeli prisons in exchange for 24 hostages held by Hamas, 13 of whom were Israelis with dual citizenship, including four Germans, 10 Thais, and one Filipino citizen. On the second day, 33 children and 6 women were released from Israeli prisons, and 13 hostages were released by Hamas, including 8 children, 5 women, and 7 foreigners, he pointed out.
He added that on the third day of the pause, 39 Palestinian minors were released from Israeli prisons in exchange for 13 hostages held by Hamas, including 9 children and 4 women, as well as a Russian citizen and three Thais. He pointed out that among the Israelis released were a 4-year-old girl with Israeli citizenship, citizens of Hungary, and a South African citizen. He added that the fourth day witnessed Israel's release of 30 minors and three women in exchange for 11 hostages, three of whom hold French citizenship, two with German citizenship, and six from Argentina.
The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that during the first three days of the pause, foreigners were released outside the agreement, which stipulates the release of 50 Israelis and dual citizens.
Regarding the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari stated that it is an integral part of the pause agreement, emphasizing the necessity of sustaining aid entry due to the severity of the destruction, losses, and significant damage.
Concerning Israeli military hostages, the spokesperson confirmed that the agreement prioritizes children, women, and then civilians, pointing out that the issue of military detainees will be discussed at a later time.
During the weekly briefing, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari reviewed the key meetings and communications of H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, during the past days as part of the State of Qatar's ongoing endeavors to activate as well as ensure the continuation of the pause.
He explained that His Excellency received two phone calls from H.E. Secretary of State of the United States of America Anthony Blinken, who expressed his country's thanks to the State of Qatar for its efforts in mediation between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), through reaching the agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza.
In a related context, Dr. Al Ansari indicated that H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs received two phone calls from H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Maria Gabriel, and H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen, extending thanks to the State of Qatar for its role in mediation and its efforts to reduce the escalation in the region.
The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that the H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Doha on Thursday, and discussed developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip, developments in regional security in the region, and the need for coordination between the parties in this context. He referred to His Excellency's meeting on Monday with H.E. President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, during which the cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them were discussed.
Dr. Al Ansari touched on H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs' meeting with H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, during which the two sides underscored the coordination between regional parties with the brothers in the GCC, Arab League, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The spokesman pointed out that H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with H.E. President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Salvatore Sciacchitano, when the two sides discussed the close cooperation between the State of Qatar and ICAO in addition to host of topics of mutual interest. Dr. Al Ansari also pointed to His Excellency's meeting with HE Mayor of Washington Muriel Bowser.
During the weekly briefing, Dr. Al Ansari touched on the visit of H.E. Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, to the city of Arish in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt on Sunday, heading the Qatari delegation visiting the Gaza Strip to oversee the delivery of the e additional Qatari assistance package to the brotherly Palestinian people.
He pointed out that Her Excellency's visit to the Gaza Strip is the first visit by a senior Arab official since the beginning of the crisis, pointing out that the visit aimed to oversee the process of delivering the assistance as well as to support the brotherly Palestinian people. Dr. Al Ansari outlined the meetings of HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation with a number of Palestinian officials and citizens, and representatives of humanitarian organizations. The visit discussed the topics of assistance, the most pressing needs, and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza in addition to ways to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza.
In the weekly briefing, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said that 14 Qatari Armed Forces aircraft have been sent over the past six days, carrying 412 tons of humanitarian aid, including six ambulances, food supplies, and shelter materials provided by the Qatar Fund for Development, the Qatari Ministry of Public Health, the Qatar Red Crescent Society, and Qatar Charity as part of the ongoing airlift to Arish city to deliver aid to Gaza. He noted that the total number of Qatari aid flights has reached 27, with a total of 910 tons of Qatari aid delivered.
In this context, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the evacuation of 20 Palestinians with Qatari residency permits from the Gaza Strip through the Egyptian city of Arish last Thursday by a Qatari Armed Forces plane in coordination with the Arab Republic of Egypt, adding that they were welcomed upon their arrival in Doha by H.E. Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater. He added that after that, a mechanism for submitting evacuation requests for Qatari residency permit holders in Gaza was announced and the ministry has accepted these requests and is currently working on evacuating these residents.
Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari pointed out that H.E. Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, along with H.E. Minister of Health and Population of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and H.E. Minister of Health in the State of Palestine Dr. Mai Al Kaila, visited the Palestinian wounded during her visit to the city of Arish in Egypt. The visit took place at Arish General Hospital, where they met with Palestinian casualties who were injured due to the aggression on Gaza.
The spokesperson added that during the visit, Her Excellency reiterated Qatar's readiness to provide medicines, equipment, and medical supplies for all wounded and injured Palestinians, both inside and outside the Gaza Strip.
He added that on the sidelines of the visit, she met on 27 November 2023, in Arish with H.E. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Ekrem Serim and H.E. Deputy Minister of Interior of the Republic of Turkiye Munir Karaloglu. They discussed ways to extend the pause and achieve a cessation of hostilities in Gaza, as well as cooperation in sending humanitarian aid.
On another note, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari touched on the meetings and discussions held by H.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, pointing out that His Excellency received a phone call from H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto last Thursday. Additionally, he chaired the Qatari delegation during political discussions between the Qatari and Nepalese foreign ministries, which was held Friday in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. The Nepalese side was chaired by HE Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal during the discussions, which discussed the cooperation between the two countries and explored ways to support and enhance it. He added that HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs also met with H.E. Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal and H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal Narayan Prakash Saud.
Concluding the weekly media briefing, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari pointed out that the second round of political consultations was held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Peru last Sunday in Doha, where H.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi chaired the Qatari side in the political consultations, while H.E. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignacio Higueras Hare headed the Peruvian side. The round of political consultations discussed relations between the two countries and ways to boost and develop them, in addition to several issues and topics of common interest.
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Source and cover image credit: QNA
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