Qatar Urges Immediate Talks on Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two

AFP | Doha
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has called on Israel and Hamas to immediately begin negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, stressing that delays could hinder progress toward a long-term resolution.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkiye’s Foreign Minister in Doha on Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed urged both parties to honor their commitments under the existing ceasefire agreement. According to the deal, negotiations for phase two should commence before the 16th day of the truce, which falls on Monday.

The ceasefire agreement, brokered last month, outlines a three-phase plan to halt hostilities in Gaza. So far, Hamas has released 18 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, more than 70 hostages remain in Gaza.

The upcoming second phase is expected to focus on:

• The release of all remaining hostages
• A permanent cessation of hostilities
• A full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza

Despite Qatar’s mediation efforts, Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged that there is no clear timeline for when delegations will convene. “There is nothing yet clear about where the delegations will come and when it’s going to take place,” he said, adding that mediators have engaged both parties remotely and that Qatar has set an agenda for the next phase.

“We hope that we start to see some movement in the next few days. It’s critical that we get things rolling now to reach an agreement before day 42,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to discuss phase two negotiations in Washington on Monday with US President Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel would present its stance on the ceasefire during the talks. Witkoff is expected to later meet with officials from Egypt and Qatar, both of whom have played key roles in mediating between Israel and Hamas over the past 15 months with support from Washington.

With diplomatic efforts intensifying, all eyes are on the coming days as mediators push for concrete steps toward a lasting resolution in Gaza.