Qatar PM says Gaza ceasefire incomplete until Israeli withdrawal

Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, has said that the Gaza ceasefire that has been going on for the past two months will not be considered complete until the Israeli army withdraws from the Palestinian territory under the peace plan supported by the United States and the United Nations.

According to the Reuters news agency, while addressing the Doha Forum, the annual diplomatic meeting held in the capital of the Gulf state, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that we are at a very critical stage at the moment, the ceasefire cannot be completed until the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and stability is restored in Gaza.

The US, Egypt and Qatar jointly brokered a long-sought ceasefire in Gaza, which has been in effect since October 10.

In the second phase of the agreement (which has yet to begin), Israel is to withdraw its positions in Gaza, an interim administration is to take over, and an International Stabilization Force (ISF) is to be deployed.

Arab and Muslim countries are reluctant to join the new force, because of the possibility that the force might have to take action against the Palestinians.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fadan also addressed the forum and said that discussions regarding this force are ongoing and the basic questions of its command structure and which countries will be involved are still unresolved.

Fidan said that the first goal of the force should be to separate the Palestinians from the Israelis, this should be our main goal, then the rest of the issues can be resolved.

Under the 20-point plan, first outlined by US President Donald Trump, Hamas would also have to disarm, allowing members who surrender their weapons to leave Gaza, a proposal the group has repeatedly rejected.