Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, has confirmed that the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has informed mediators of its approval of a new ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip.
He explained that this proposal represents the best possible option to save the lives of the people in Gaza, especially given the ongoing military escalation and plans announced in the media.
During the weekly media briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Al-Ansari stated that the new proposal includes a path to a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
This includes a 60-day temporary ceasefire, during which a number of prisoners and hostages would be exchanged, Israeli forces would be redeployed, and the delivery of humanitarian aid would be intensified as stipulated in the agreement.
He added that the response from Hamas was "very positive" and largely consistent with what had been previously agreed upon by the Israeli side.
However, the mediation is still awaiting an official response from Israel.
"The region is at a critical humanitarian moment, and if an agreement is not reached now, we will face an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," he said.
He noted that Qatar is continuing its efforts in cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States, and other international parties to push for a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid.
Regarding the timing of the Israeli response, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that there is no specific timeline, but discussions are ongoing on the Israeli side.
He expressed hope that the response would be quick and positive, noting that about 98 percent of what was previously approved by Israel is included in the current proposal that Hamas has agreed to.
He pointed out that the mediation is still in the response exchange phase.
If an agreement is reached between the two sides, a technical phase will begin to discuss implementation details.
He stressed that the anticipated agreement would be under international sponsorship and guarantee, led by the United States.
However, previous experiences have shown that the real guarantee is the commitment of both parties.
Dr. Al-Ansari also noted that the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, is in direct contact with the U.S. envoy.
He mentioned that the language of the proposed draft was formulated by the U.S. side in an earlier concept, indicating daily and direct engagement between Qatar and the U.S. administration to advance the negotiations.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson affirmed that "the positive response from Hamas is an important indicator, but the final decision depends on the Israeli side's response."
He noted that other elements related to the peace plan involve the exchange of hostages and the mechanism for implementing the agreement once it is reached, expressing hope that these efforts will succeed, unlike previous attempts that were not implemented on the ground.
Regarding a visit by U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff to Doha or Cairo, Dr. Al-Ansari said, "We do not have any confirmation at this time, but communication is ongoing on a daily basis with the U.S. envoy."
Concerning Netanyahu's conditions for a war halt in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Al-Ansari clarified that the mediation is focused on the official responses to the proposed deal, not on media statements from various parties.
He emphasized that the primary goal is to reach the fastest possible ceasefire to save lives, given the daily human losses in Gaza due to bombardment, food and medicine shortages, and the deterioration of the health sector.
He confirmed that the proposal approved by Hamas includes a clear plan to reach a comprehensive agreement that ends the war.
Regarding Arab and Islamic coordination, Dr. Al-Ansari referred to the statement issued in mid-month by the foreign ministries of 31 Arab and Islamic countries, which condemned the Israeli Prime Minister's statements about what is called "Greater Israel."
He explained that there is almost daily coordination among the foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries with their counterparts in friendly nations to unify positions on the Israeli escalation.
Dr. Al-Ansari noted that Israeli officials are now proposing stances that go beyond the occupation of Gaza or the West Bank or the isolation of Jerusalem, to include talk of occupying sovereign Arab countries, which constitutes a clear violation of international law.
He affirmed that Qatar has repeatedly condemned these practices, including the plan to build settlements to separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank, stressing that such policies will not bring security to Israel or lead to de-escalation in the region.
On another matter, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson touched upon the Russian-American summit that brought together U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
He expressed Qatar's hope that these efforts will contribute to a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, reiterating Qatar's position calling for peaceful solutions.
He explained that Qatar has taken the initiative to propose humanitarian solutions, most notably the reunification of children affected by the war with their families, confirming the continuation of the Foreign Ministry’s efforts through HE Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation, to follow this file with the concerned parties.
Dr. Al-Ansari also pointed to Qatar's continued efforts to support the peace process in the Republic of the Congo, stating that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, is in constant contact with the concerned parties.
He added that Qatar is working to facilitate negotiations despite the complexities of the situation, with a commitment to finding constructive solutions and supporting the will of the parties to reach a sustainable agreement.
At the start of the media briefing, Dr. Al-Ansari reviewed the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the week.
He mentioned the meeting between the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, and the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The meeting discussed bilateral cooperation, developments in Gaza, and joint efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also participated in ceasefire talks in El Alamein, Egypt, as part of joint efforts with Cairo to advance the negotiations.
In Doha, he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, HE Mr. Hakan Fidan, and received a phone call from the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, HE Dr. Dick Schoof, which covered bilateral relations, in addition to efforts to peacefully resolve the Palestinian issue and implement the two-state solution.
