Qatar Backs US Ceasefire Plan for Gaza, Urges Immediate Action Amid Rising Tensions

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has expressed support for the Gaza ceasefire plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump, calling it aligned with the key goals of mediators: stopping the killing and displacement of Palestinians. In an interview with Al Jazeera aired Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed urged all parties to seize the “momentum” to bring Israel’s war in Gaza to an end.

Sheikh Mohammed confirmed that Doha had shared the plan, already backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Hamas’s negotiating team. While acknowledging “practical and implementation challenges,” he emphasized that the plan prioritizes ending bloodshed in Gaza and opening avenues for potential opportunities. “The main focus is how to protect the people in Gaza,” he said.

The 20-point proposal, which has drawn support from several Arab and Muslim nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Turkiye, and Indonesia, stipulates that attacks in Gaza would cease immediately, followed by the delivery of full aid to the enclave. The plan also calls for Israel to free all captives within 72 hours and release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas would step down and demilitarise, with its members granted amnesty.

An international force would temporarily oversee security and train local Palestinian police, while a technocratic Palestinian committee would manage interim governance. Sheikh Mohammed noted that details regarding Israel’s withdrawal and the future Palestinian administration remain to be negotiated, with broader international support, potentially via the UN Security Council, expected to help clarify the framework.

The plan has faced criticism over lack of security guarantees for Palestinians. Analysts argue it heavily favors Israel, with no clear protections or path toward autonomous governance for the Palestinian side. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian lawyer, stated, “If you read the agreement itself, there are no guarantees provided to the Palestinians, not a single guarantee. All guarantees are provided to the Israelis.”

Hamas has yet to officially respond to the proposal, with Trump reportedly giving the group three to four days to answer, warning that failure to accept the plan would carry consequences. The ceasefire push comes amid a devastating Israeli offensive in Gaza City, which has resulted in 66,097 Palestinian deaths and 168,536 injuries since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with aid restrictions worsening malnutrition and causing 453 hunger-related deaths.

Sheikh Mohammed concluded by stressing that “the direct responsible party for managing Gaza are the Palestinian people themselves,” urging all sides to act swiftly to protect civilians and prevent further escalation.