Qatar PM says Gaza truce incomplete without 'full withdrawal' by Israel

Doha: Qatar’s Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned on Saturday that the nearly two-month-old ceasefire in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered fully effective until Israeli forces complete their withdrawal from the territory, as outlined in a peace plan supported by Washington and the United Nations.

“Now we are at a critical moment,” Shaikh Mohammed told the Doha Forum, the Gulf state’s annual diplomatic conference. “A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and stability is restored in Gaza.”

The remarks come as international efforts to stabilize the region continue. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that discussions over the Gaza stabilization force are ongoing, including debates on its mandate and rules of engagement. Fidan emphasised that the primary goal of the force should be to separate Israeli and Palestinian forces along the border, ensuring a lasting peace.

As the region watches closely, diplomats stress that the ceasefire remains fragile, hinging on a full implementation of withdrawal agreements and continued international mediation.