Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has stressed the necessity of a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, dismissing temporary measures as insufficient. Speaking at a press conference in Doha on Wednesday alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the firm call to end the war in Gaza and advocated for a just solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Blinken addressed Hamas’s response to the UN-backed ceasefire plan, acknowledging that while some of the requested amendments are feasible, others are not. He also noted the uncertainty surrounding the success of a potential ceasefire agreement.

The discussions followed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s submission of a response to the UN-backed proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt. Hamas has welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution supporting a ceasefire but insists on a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Hamas's "positive" response to the proposal was described as opening a pathway to an agreement. The group has sought US guarantees to ensure Israel adheres to its commitments under the ceasefire plan, which involves an initial six-week ceasefire followed by negotiations for a full ceasefire.

Egyptian sources indicated that Hamas would only accept the plan if these guarantees were in place. Despite the United States' assertion that Israel accepted the proposal, Israel has not publicly confirmed this. Blinken mentioned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had committed to the plan, although it lacked formal endorsement from his war cabinet members.

As the conflict continues, civilian casualties mount, with recent Israeli attacks resulting in the deaths of 14 people across the Gaza Strip, including six in Gaza City. The Israeli regime's forces persist in their indiscriminate air and artillery strikes, defying international outcry.

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