Qatari and Egyptian officials are urging Israel's full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as the next crucial step towards securing a sustainable peace deal, according to representatives of both countries who attended a diplomatic conference in Doha.
The call comes amid ongoing tensions over the fragile ceasefire agreement, which has largely halted fighting but remains vulnerable to breaches by all parties. Qatar and Egypt, along with the United States, played key roles in brokering the truce that has held thus far.
The agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw behind a "yellow line" within Gaza's borders, while Hamas has released its living hostages and handed over the remains of nearly all of the deceased militants it had been holding. However, sticking points have emerged over the implementation of subsequent phases of the deal, particularly with regards to Hamas's disarmament.
The Islamist group, which has repeatedly rejected the US proposal for disarmament in exchange for freedom for its leaders, insists that its weapons are linked to Israel's occupation and aggression. In a statement, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's chief negotiator, said: "If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the importance of a full Israeli withdrawal, calling it a "necessary condition" for completing the ceasefire. He also urged an international stabilisation force to be deployed as soon as possible to verify and monitor the truce.
However, Arab nations have been hesitant to participate in such a force due to concerns that it could end up fighting Palestinian militants. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acknowledged these concerns but stressed the need for the force to separate Palestinians from Israelis.
Meanwhile, Egypt has denied Israel's claim that the Gaza Strip's Rafah crossing will be opened exclusively for the exit of residents to Egypt. The Egyptian foreign ministry insists the crossing should be opened both ways, with aid entering the territory as well.
The peace deal's second phase remains elusive, and with tensions escalating on the ground, officials from Qatar, Egypt, and other countries are urging all parties to work together to ensure its successful implementation.
The call comes amid ongoing tensions over the fragile ceasefire agreement, which has largely halted fighting but remains vulnerable to breaches by all parties. Qatar and Egypt, along with the United States, played key roles in brokering the truce that has held thus far.
The agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw behind a "yellow line" within Gaza's borders, while Hamas has released its living hostages and handed over the remains of nearly all of the deceased militants it had been holding. However, sticking points have emerged over the implementation of subsequent phases of the deal, particularly with regards to Hamas's disarmament.
The Islamist group, which has repeatedly rejected the US proposal for disarmament in exchange for freedom for its leaders, insists that its weapons are linked to Israel's occupation and aggression. In a statement, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's chief negotiator, said: "If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the importance of a full Israeli withdrawal, calling it a "necessary condition" for completing the ceasefire. He also urged an international stabilisation force to be deployed as soon as possible to verify and monitor the truce.
However, Arab nations have been hesitant to participate in such a force due to concerns that it could end up fighting Palestinian militants. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acknowledged these concerns but stressed the need for the force to separate Palestinians from Israelis.
Meanwhile, Egypt has denied Israel's claim that the Gaza Strip's Rafah crossing will be opened exclusively for the exit of residents to Egypt. The Egyptian foreign ministry insists the crossing should be opened both ways, with aid entering the territory as well.
The peace deal's second phase remains elusive, and with tensions escalating on the ground, officials from Qatar, Egypt, and other countries are urging all parties to work together to ensure its successful implementation.
it sounds like a pretty big ask considering israel's security concerns 
and what's with the "yellow line" thing? seems kinda vague 
does anyone really know what that even means? 
also, how do we know hamas isn't just saying that about their weapons because they don't wanna disarm 
meanwhile, i'm over here thinking about the logistics of deploying an international stabilisation force 
what's the cost gonna be and who's gonna foot it 
seems like a lot of people are talking about this peace deal without actually having a plan in place 
between the US, Israel, Hamas, and Arab nations. You've got the US pushing for disarmament in exchange for freedom, but that's not gonna fly with Hamas - they're all about the occupation, fam! 
. But what about Turkey's concerns? Are we just gonna leave Palestine and Israel alone to duke it out? 
. It's time for some clarity here.
.
it's like, qatar and egypt are saying the right things but no one's actually doing anything about it. and meanwhile, hamas is still holding out for whatever reason. what's up with that? 
anyway, i do think an international stabilisation force could be a good idea - at least then someone would be there to make sure everyone follows the rules 
we need some serious negotiations and compromise from all sides if this is ever gonna work out 
The ceasefire has held thus far, but it's still super fragile and needs some serious stabilization. An international stabilisation force would be the way to go - just imagine having neutral guards keeping an eye on things 
marking the border where Israeli troops need to pull back. It's like, a clear boundary that shows everyone what needs to happen next 
And I think Egypt's stance on opening up the Rafah crossing for both exit and entry is the way forward 
remember when obama was still in office? it felt like we were actually making progress towards peace in the middle east now it feels like we're right back where we started. qatar and egypt are on the same page but what about turkey? shouldn't they be supporting the ceasefire more? and what's up with israel's "yellow line" anyway? sounds like some kinda joke. i wish we could just fast forward to a time when all these conflicts were resolved and we didn't have to deal with this drama anymore 
I'm getting really hopeful about this situation, fam! 
The international community is finally coming together to push for a real peace deal in Gaza 
. It's amazing to see Qatar and Egypt taking the lead on this one, urging Israel to take a step back and withdraw completely from the strip 
.
. We need sustainable peace that benefits everyone involved 
. And let's not forget about those living hostages and the remains of militants - their freedom is still needed! 
And what about all these "necessary conditions" being thrown around... is anyone really checking if they're actually being met before moving forward with this deal? Need some concrete answers, stat! 
it's so funny i watched it like 5 times in a row lol 
anyway back to gaza strip idk why ppl keep goin on about this conflict there's just so much drama and bloodshed what about the ppl who actually live there? r they gettin any love? 
anyway back to the israel stuff... i was talking to my friend who's been to gaza and he said it's like a whole different world over there. all these ppl just trying to survive & live their lives without any fuss. u know? 
it feels like we're stuck in this cycle of violence over and over again... i mean, can't we just imagine a future where kids can play in the streets of Gaza without fear of being caught in the crossfire? 
i'm just worried about all these lives that are getting lost or damaged along the way... 
let's keep pushing for a peaceful resolution here
can you believe israeli troops are still stuck behind that yellow line in gaza? 
. and the ceasefire agreement is basically a ticking time bomb waiting for someone to breach it 
. on one hand, i get why qatar and egypt are pushing for a full withdrawal - it would be a major step towards peace 
meanwhile, the international stabilisation force thingy seems super complicated 
? it's crazy cuz like how can u expect peace if ppl don't even have basic necessities 