Qatar has continued to support resolution and peace, as this was also mentioned by Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at a press meet which took place with Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America on 13 October 2023 in Qatar as published by the U.S. Department of State.

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani mentioned the following, "The State of Qatar firmly believes in the importance of mediation and dialogue, and considers this an integral part of our foreign policy."

"The State of Qatar has always sought to keep channels of communication open with various parties in various arenas of conflict, which has contributed to consolidating Qatar’s international position as a reliable partner in peacemaking."

Al Jazeera News reported on 20 October 2023 a statement made by Hamas, which mentioned that they have released two American hostages Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan, based on negotiation from Qatar and based on humanitarian grounds.

As per the reports on Al Jazeera News, they are the first hostages to be freed and the Israeli Prime Minister’s office also confirmed that they had been released and were in the country.⁠ US President Joe Biden, in a statement, thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the pair’s release.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, H.E. Dr Majed Al Ansari on 20 October 2023 said that the release of US hostages from Gaza comes "after many days of continuous communication" with all parties. Qatar hopes dialogue will lead to the "release of all civilian hostages from every nationality", he added.

The statement was as follows as per Al Jazeera published on 20 October at 16:57 GMT (8:57 PM Qatar time):

The spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has said that the group has released two US captives for humanitarian reasons.

“In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons,” Abu Obaida said in a statement. He added that the move aimed “to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.

On 21 October 2023, H.E. Timmy Davis, Ambassador of the United States in Qatar, also tweeted his gratitude and appreciation for Qatar’s mediation efforts which led to the release of two Americans held hostage by Hamas.

I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the State of Qatar’s mediation efforts, which led to the release of two Americans held hostage by Hamas. As @SecBlinken said in his press conference here in Doha, “I’m grateful for the urgency Qatar has brought to this… https://t.co/qPKOOdNnSU

— Ambassador Timmy Davis (@USAmbQatar) October 21, 2023

Source: Al Jazeera/U.S. Department of State
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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ILQ Staff

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