Qatar PM says Trump’s Gaza plan needs clarification, talks

DOHA: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has said that while U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza plan seeks an important objective — ending the war — several points require clarification and further negotiation.

Speaking to Al Jazeera in Doha, Sheikh Mohammed said the initiative does present an opportunity to halt hostilities, but added: “There are elements in the proposed plan that need to be explained and discussed.”

He expressed hope that stakeholders would view the proposal constructively and seize the chance to end the fighting.

The prime minister noted that Qatar has not yet received a formal written response from Hamas. “We are not aware of Hamas’s reaction so far, because any response requires consensus among Palestinian factions,” he said.

Sheikh Mohammed said that in a meeting on Monday, Qatar and Egypt had made clear to Hamas that the principal objective was to stop the war.

“Our focus is on ending the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza — ending war, famine, killings and forced displacement is our top priority,” he said.

He described the plan presented as being based on principled provisions that still require detailed discussion and practical arrangements.

The prime minister emphasized that Arab and Muslim states have taken extensive measures to ensure Palestinians can remain on their land and to advance a two-state solution.

Sheikh Mohammed warned that this stage of diplomacy is delicate and that comprehensive negotiations will be needed; no immediate final agreement should be expected in definitive terms.

He said it is important to proceed carefully to make the process effective and successful.

The comments follow President Trump’s announcement at the White House, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of a 20-point proposal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.

The plan envisions hostage releases in exchange for the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners, the full demilitarization of Hamas, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and the establishment of a non-political technocratic body to administer Gaza.

While the proposal references a pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood, it offers no guaranteed timeline or assurances.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and mass displacement, with humanitarian conditions described by aid agencies as catastrophic.