Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al-Thani said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference with the Turkey's foreign minister that there has been a "breakthrough" in the negotiations for the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip. He said he expects to soon see the release of more hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip.
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In addition, he condemned "the statements of some senior Israeli officials who blame Qatar," and did not elaborate.
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Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al-Thani says he has negotiated a 'breakthrough' on the return of the hostages in Gaza
(Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Shortly after the Qatari prime minister's statement, the head of Israel's National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, posted on the X social media platform that he was "pleased to say that Qatar is becoming an essential party and stakeholder in the facilitation of humanitarian solutions. Qatar’s diplomatic efforts are crucial at this time."
The political-security cabinet is expected to convene Wednesday evening.
An Israeli official said on Wednesday that "there are advanced talks with the Qataris," and added: "We have a pipeline that has proven itself in the previous two releases of hostages. We want to reach a situation where all the hostages will come home."
Hanegbi's announcement may indicate that Qatar, within the framework of the talks which are also being mediated by the United States, demanded some kind of positive statement from Israel about Qatar - after in recent days it was accused of financing the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas. The Qataris host on their territory senior Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, among others, and have been criticized for their ties to the terrorist organization responsible for the murderous surprise attack of October 7.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responded to the announcement, saying: "The Israeli government is making a grave moral and practical error. Qatar is not an 'essential partner for humanitarian operations and diplomatic operations'. Qatar is the enemy itself. Qatar finances, assists and strengthens the terrorist organization ISIS. Israel's declared goal is to destroy Hamas. Qatar's goal is the exact opposite: saving Hamas. How can we destroy the enemy if we give compliments to its main sponsor, for God's sake?"
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Freed Israeli hostage Yocheved Lifshitz talks to reporters at Ichilov Hospital
(Photo: Tal Shachar)
The Qatari Prime Minister condemned "harming civilians from all sides" - and also decried the "collective punishment toward the Gaza Strip. "We discussed with the Turkish side reducing the escalation in order to reach a cease-fire. We emphasize together with Turkey the need to provide assistance to the residents of the Gaza Strip, and prevent their displacement," he also said.
A spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry said at noon on Wednesday that Qatar's top priority is for the hostages to return home safely. He noted that Qatar is focusing on mediating negotiations to release hostages, and that any escalation in the fighting will create difficulties for their release. The spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry emphasized that an Israeli ground incursion would complicate efforts to free all the hostages from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.
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Senior Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas leader Khaled Mashal both live in Qatar
(Photo: Reuters)
"We do not accept the attacks in Gaza and the displacement of civilians from their homes," Turkish Foreign Minister Khan Fidan said. "Israel harms civilians in mosques and hospitals, and the international community must stop this. There must be a cease-fire, and we must bring aid to the Gaza Strip. Those who support the crimes of Israel are complicit in the crime. The only solution is two states, not violence."
The Turkish Foreign Minister also praised Qatar for the negotiations for the release of the hostages, and claimed that its actions on the issue are "impressive." He also noted the Qatari efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.