Source: Government of Qatar
Doha, August 19, 2025
Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari confirmed that the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has informed the mediators of its approval of the new proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
He said that this proposal represents the best possible option to spare the blood of brothers in the Strip, especially in light of the ongoing military escalation and the plans announced in the media.
Dr. Al Ansari said during the weekly media briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the new proposal includes a path to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
It includes a temporary ceasefire for 60 days, during which a number of prisoners and hostages will be exchanged, along with the repositioning of Israeli forces and the intensification of humanitarian aid entry according to the terms of the agreement.
He added that Hamas’ response was very positive and largely aligns with what was previously approved by the Israeli side, but the mediation is still awaiting an official response from Israel.
He also said that the region is going through a critical humanitarian moment, and if an agreement is not reached now, all will be facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, pointing out that the State of Qatar continues its efforts in cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States of America, and other international parties to push for a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid.
Regarding the timing of the Israeli response, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that there was no specific timeframe, but discussions are ongoing on the Israeli side.
He expressed hope that the response would be swift and positive, noting that about 98% of what was previously approved by Israel is included in the current proposal that Hamas has accepted.
He indicated that the mediation is still in the stage of exchanging responses, and if an agreement is reached between the two parties, a technical phase will begin to discuss implementation details.
He stressed that the anticipated agreement will be under international sponsorship and guarantees, primarily from the United States of America, but previous experiences have shown that commitment from both parties remains the true guarantee.
Dr. Al Ansari pointed out that HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani was in direct contact with the American envoy, and that the language of the proposed draft was formulated by the American side in a previous one. He also affirmed the existence of daily and direct contact between the State of Qatar and the US administration to advance the negotiations.
The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the positive response from Hamas was an important indicator, but the resolution depends on the Israeli side’s reply, pointing out that there are other elements related to the peace plan concerning the exchange of hostages and the mechanism for implementing the agreement once reached.
He expressed hope that these efforts would succeed, unlike previous attempts that were not implemented on the ground.
Regarding the visit of American envoy Steve Witkoff to Doha or Cairo, Dr. Al Ansari said that there are currently no confirmations, but communication continues on a daily basis with the American envoy.
As for Netanyahu’s conditions regarding ending the war in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Al Ansari said that the mediation is concerned with official responses to the proposed draft, not with media statements issued by various parties.
He emphasized that the primary goal is to reach the fastest possible ceasefire to spare lives, in light of the daily humanitarian losses in the Gaza Strip due to bombing, food and medicine shortages, and the deterioration of the health sector.
He confirmed that the proposal accepted by Hamas includes a clear plan to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
Regarding Arab and Islamic coordination, Dr. Al Ansari referred to the statement issued mid-month by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of 31 Arab and Islamic countries, which condemned the Israeli Prime Minister’s statements about what is called Greater Israel.
He said that there is near-daily coordination between foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries and their counterparts in friendly countries to unify positions regarding Israeli escalation.
Dr. Al Ansari underlined that Israeli officials are now presenting positions 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 confirmed that the State of Qatar has repeatedly condemned these practices, including the settlement plan to separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank, stressing that such policies will not bring security to Israel and will not lead to calming the situation in the region.
The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the US-Russia summit that brought together US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
He expressed the State of Qatar’s hope that these efforts would contribute to reaching a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, reiterating Qatar’s position calling for peaceful solutions.
He said that the State of Qatar initiated humanitarian solutions, most notably the reunification of children affected by the war with their families, confirming that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, continues to follow up on this file with the concerned parties.
Dr. Al Ansari also referred to the continued efforts of the State of Qatar in supporting the peace process in the Republic of the Congo, noting that HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi is in constant contact with the concerned parties, and that Qatar is working to facilitate negotiations despite the complexity of the situation, with a commitment to finding constructive solutions and supporting the will of the parties to reach a sustainable agreement.
At the beginning of the media briefing, Dr. Al Ansari reviewed the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the week, including the meeting of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani with HE President of the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El Sisi during which bilateral cooperation relations and developments in Gaza were discussed, along with joint efforts to reach a ceasefire.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also participated in ceasefire negotiations in El Alamein, Egypt, as part of joint efforts with Cairo to advance the negotiations.
In Doha, His Excellency met with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Hakan Fidan, and received a phone call from HE Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Dr. Dick Schoof, which addressed bilateral relations and efforts to resolve the Palestinian issue through peaceful means and the implementation of the two-state solution. (QNA)
