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Qatar’s prime minister sat down with a Hamas delegation in Doha on Saturday to negotiate a “clear and comprehensive” ceasefire arrangement intended to end the ongoing hostilities in Gaza. The meeting, confirmed in an official statement, reflects continued diplomatic efforts to halt the violence, focusing on a framework that could bring a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Qatar’s foreign minister, held a diplomatic meeting in Doha with a Hamas delegation, which was headed by the senior official Khalil al-Hayya, as reported in the foreign ministry statement. The discussions were focused on securing a ceasefire to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Sheikh Mohammed, who holds the dual role of Qatar’s foreign minister, has rarely been so openly engaged in the mediation process, particularly one that has been stuck in a standstill for months. His public participation marks a significant shift, suggesting that efforts to break the deadlock have intensified.
“During the meeting, the latest developments in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations were reviewed, and ways to advance the process were discussed to ensure a clear and comprehensive agreement that brings an end to the ongoing war in the region,” the statement said.
Earlier this month, the sheikh expressed optimism that “momentum” was returning to the talks following Donald Trump’s election victory in the United States.
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“We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back,” he said at the Doha Forum political conference.
The incoming Trump administration had given “a lot of encouragement in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office”, the premier added.
The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, has been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release.
In November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying that it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed “willingness and seriousness”.
But Doha then hosted indirect negotiations this month, with Hamas and Israel both reporting progress before again accusing each other of throwing up roadblocks.
