Qatar PM: Netanyahu Government Biggest Obstacle to Gaza Peace Plan

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, stated on Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are the primary obstacle to advancing a peace plan for Gaza. Speaking in an interview with CNN, Al Thani accused Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under a memorandum of understanding and obstructing efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

Al Thani specifically pointed to Israel's non-compliance with obligations regarding the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. He noted that approximately 150 trucks are entering daily, a significant shortfall compared to the agreed-upon commitment of over 600 trucks per day.

He also refuted accusations that Qatari financial aid was directed to Hamas's military wing. Al Thani asserted that the transfer of funds and aid to Gaza over the past years was coordinated with the Israeli government, its security and intelligence agencies, and the United Nations. He explained that the funds were used to purchase gas from Israel, provide financial assistance to needy families whose names were on Israeli-approved lists, and pay government employee salaries, noting this was done at Israel's request as a temporary solution.

In broader regional developments, Al Thani revealed that indirect communications between the United States and Iran took place during the past week, aiming to re-establish diplomatic channels between the two countries. Qatar opposes any infringement on freedom of navigation in the region and believes a military solution against Iran is not feasible, regardless of U.S. strength. He added that regional countries are seeking security arrangements to ensure stability for all parties.