Ugbala Louisa.
DOHA – The prime minister of Qatar stated on Wednesday that he is hopeful that the negotiations the Gulf Arab state is spearheading to obtain the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would soon lead to a breakthrough.
In addition to pleading for a de-escalation, Qatar’s foreign ministry issued a warning that a ground invasion by Israel on the heavily populated enclave would make the release of detainees “much more difficult.”
At a news conference in the capital of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani stated, “There is some progress and some breakthrough and we remain hopeful.”
Wealthy gas producer Open communication between Qatar and Israel and Hamas has resulted in the release of four captives, including two Israeli women, who were taken prisoner during Hamas’s Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel.
Speaking alongside his Turkish counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the minister of international affairs, predicted that “if they can get along between the two parties, hopefully soon we will see some breakthroughs.”
An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, according to representatives of Qatar’s foreign ministry, would make hostage-rescue efforts more difficult.
The foreign ministry’s spokeswoman, Majed Al Ansari, stated, “Obviously, a land incursion into Gaza would make it difficult to maintain the safety of the hostages. In our efforts at mediation with both sides, we urge all parties in this conflict to de-escalate immediately.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also made a statement in Doha, stating that an Israeli foot invasion into Gaza would convert the conflict there into a slaughter.
Under the guise of sympathy, Fidan said that people endorsing Israel’s conduct were “accomplices to its crimes”.
According to survivors’ accounts, on October 7, Hamas and other militants went on a killing spree through southern Israel, seizing 222 individuals ranging in age from 9 months to 85 years. They shot and killed motorists, hunted down civilians, including children, in their homes, and killed people by burning and stabbing.
In response, Israel launched a bombardment campaign and imposed a stranglehold on Gaza.
At least 6,546 Palestinians, including 2,704 children, have died as a result of Israeli bombardment since October 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry’s statement on Wednesday. 756 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours alone.
He emphasized that maintaining open lines of communication was the only way to find a peaceful solution in Gaza. “The number of children being killed since the start of this war is exceeding the number of children killed in the other war between Ukraine and Russia and yet we didn’t see the same reaction (in the international community),” he said.
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