Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has warned that repeated Israeli breaches of the Gaza ceasefire are jeopardizing the entire agreement.
Speaking after talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, he called for immediate progress toward the next phase to alleviate the escalating humanitarian disaster.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Israel has violated the agreement at least 738 times, resulting in 394 Palestinian deaths and over 1,075 injuries, according to Al Jazeera.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed that these daily violations place mediators in a “difficult position” and endanger the fragile truce.
The Qatari premier emphasized that humanitarian aid must reach Gaza “unconditionally” and urged Washington to press Israel to allow more supplies through.
US-Qatar strategic dialogue highlights key issues
During the seventh US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, talks focused on three critical points:
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Ceasefire enforcement – Pressuring Israel to halt repeated violations.
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International Stabilisation Force (ISF) – Proposed to include Indonesian and Turkish troops, though Israel opposes Turkey’s involvement.
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Humanitarian crisis – Qatar urged immediate action to deliver essential aid as Gaza faces severe shortages.
The dialogue followed a recent assassination of senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in Gaza City, which further strained the ceasefire.
Winter storms worsen humanitarian crisis
Gaza is facing worsening conditions as winter storms batter the enclave.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering in flimsy tents or bombed-out buildings, with aid deliveries severely restricted. Only 39 percent of allocated trucks have reached their destinations, and Israel continues to block nutritious foods while permitting non-essential items.
Tragically, a 29-day-old premature baby, Said Asad Abedin, recently died of severe hypothermia in Khan Younis, raising the winter death toll to 13. Earlier this week, a two-week-old baby, Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Khair, also succumbed to hypothermia.
Leaders call for action
Hamas’s Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya warned that continued Israeli violations “threaten the viability of the agreement,” urging President Trump to hold Israel accountable.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the killing of Raed Saad, accusing Hamas of violating the peace plan by attempting to rearm.
The second phase of the US-backed ceasefire envisions Hamas disarming, Israeli forces withdrawing, and the deployment of an international force.
The first phase mainly involved prisoner and captive exchanges, which included returning hundreds of Palestinian bodies, many showing signs of torture or execution.
