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Qatar’s prime minister warned on Saturday that the Gaza ceasefire has reached a “critical moment” as its first phase draws to a close, with international mediators working intensively to advance the fragile truce agreement.
Speaking at the Doha Forum in Qatar’s capital, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed that what has been achieved so far is merely a pause in hostilities, not a full ceasefire.
“We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire,” he told attendees. “A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, there is stability back in Gaza, people can go in and out, which is not the case today.”
The current truce, which took effect on October 10, has significantly reduced the intensity of fighting in the two-year-old conflict. However, Gaza health officials report that more than 360 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the agreement began.
Fresh violence erupted on Saturday when two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike northwest of Gaza City, according to Shifa Hospital. While Israel’s military said it was unaware of an airstrike in that location, it confirmed that Israeli soldiers had killed three militants who crossed into Israeli-controlled northern Gaza, describing them as an “immediate threat.”
The ceasefire’s first phase involved an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention. A U.S.-led 20-point peace plan structured the agreement, but progress toward implementing the second phase has been slow and fraught with complications.
The next stage calls for several significant developments: deploying an international security force in Gaza, forming a new technocratic government for the territory, disarming Hamas, and eventually withdrawing Israeli forces. According to Arab and Western officials, an international body overseeing the ceasefire – reportedly to be led by President Donald Trump himself – is expected to be appointed before year’s end.
Qatar’s prime minister emphasized that even these steps should be viewed as “temporary” measures. “If we are just resolving what happened in Gaza, the catastrophe that happened in the last two years, it’s not enough,” he said. “There is a root for this conflict. And this conflict is not only about Gaza. It’s about Gaza. It’s about the West Bank. It’s about the rights of the Palestinians for their state.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, also attending the forum, raised concerns about the proposed international security force. “There is a big question over the formation of an international security force for Gaza,” Fidan noted, citing uncertainties about which countries would participate, command structure, and the force’s immediate objectives.
Turkey is among the guarantors of the ceasefire, but Israel – which has strained relations with Ankara – has rejected any Turkish participation in the security force.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) faces uncertainty about its future role in Gaza despite receiving overwhelming international endorsement. Throughout the conflict, both Israel and the United States have sidelined UNRWA, accusing it of cooperating with Hamas – allegations the agency denies.
Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s director of external relations and communications, expressed concern that the agency has been excluded from U.S.-led discussions on the ceasefire’s second phase, despite serving as Gaza’s de facto “public sector” with 12,000 employees.
“If you squeeze UNRWA out, what other agency can fill that void?” Alrifai asked on the forum’s sidelines, noting that despite the UN General Assembly’s renewal of UNRWA’s mandate through 2029, the agency’s funding crisis persists after the U.S. halted contributions in early 2024.
The conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, has resulted in catastrophic human suffering. The initial attack killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and led to more than 250 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent military response has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with nearly half being women and children.
As mediators work to advance the peace process, the transition from temporary pause to lasting ceasefire remains tenuous, with significant political and security challenges ahead for all parties involved in the conflict.
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7 Comments
This ceasefire appears to be more of a temporary lull in hostilities than a true resolution to the underlying issues. Achieving genuine stability and security for all will require difficult compromises and concessions from both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
It’s concerning to hear that violence has already resumed, even during this ‘ceasefire’ period. Achieving a lasting peace in the region seems increasingly elusive. Diplomats will need to work tirelessly to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
The prime minister’s warnings underscore just how precarious the current ceasefire is. With casualties continuing to mount, the parties will be under immense pressure to find a more durable resolution to the conflict. Mediation efforts must be redoubled.
This ceasefire seems quite fragile and tenuous. Tensions remain high, and violence could flare up again without a more comprehensive and lasting agreement. Mediators have their work cut out for them to solidify the truce and address underlying issues.
Agreed. Sustainable peace will require substantive negotiations and concessions from both sides. The situation remains volatile and unpredictable.
The prime minister’s comments highlight the complexity of the situation. Maintaining a ceasefire is just the first step – achieving true stability and freedom of movement in Gaza will be an immense challenge.
Absolutely. There are deep-seated grievances and mistrust on both sides that will take time and effort to overcome. Constructive dialogue is essential to make meaningful progress.