Doha, July 15 (QNA) - Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are still on.

He noted that the Palestinian and Israeli negotiating teams remain in Doha and are continuing their indirect meetings intensively in coordination with mediators in the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States of America.

During the weekly press briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al Ansari said that the ceasefire negotiations are still in the first phase, with the goal of reaching an agreement on principles for the negotiations that will begin in the next phase.

He indicated that work is ongoing and continuing around the clock to support and intensify these efforts to reach an agreement.

He highlighted that Qatar's efforts are continuing to reach an agreement as quickly as possible, with the aim of bridging the gap between the two negotiating delegations and resolving the outstanding issues between them to reach an agreement on principles that will assist in the next phase of negotiations.

He indicated that a specific timeframe for the negotiations cannot be predicted.

He added that the current phase of negotiations cannot be described as a stalemate because the meetings are still ongoing.

He emphasized that these meetings are not negotiating as was the case previously, but rather preceding meetings aimed at reaching a negotiating framework.

The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that there is intensive daily communication between mediators in the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States of America, and the State of Qatar to ensure intensified efforts aimed at reaching an agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

In this context, he said that communications with the US administration and with US President's Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, may not be daily, but rather instantaneous, within the framework of reaching an agreement, indicating that there is American support for this stage of negotiations in its current form.

Al Ansari reiterated that as long as indirect meetings between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations are ongoing in Doha, negotiations will continue. He noted that all parties are still engaged in these talks and have not ceased participating, and that new ideas are being put on the table on an ongoing basis.

He noted that the framework agreement would be the basis upon which indirect negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire would begin, followed by a phase of achieving a general calm in the Gaza Strip and sustainable peace.

He indicated that the reasons behind focusing on the framework agreement as a first phase lie in facilitating the indirect negotiations process and reaching an agreement, and overcoming the difficulties facing them by bridging the gap between positions before these negotiations begin. 

On a separate note, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar’s condemnation of the irresponsible Israeli policies in the region and its reckless behavior that threatens regional security.

He emphasized that the Israeli actions violate all principles of respect for sovereignty and good neighborliness, calling on the international community to act and stop such reckless conduct through international legitimacy, as would be expected with any state behaving in this way globally.

Meanwhile, Al Ansari noted that, in implementation of the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) arrived Saturday at Aleppo International Airport in the Syrian Arab Republic, representing the Standing Committee for Rescue, Relief, and Humanitarian Assistance in disaster-stricken areas of friendly and brotherly countries.

He said that this step came as part of the team’s participation in firefighting operations in Latakia on the Syrian coast, as well as delivering urgent humanitarian aid to help mitigate the impact and consequences of these fires, noting that this initiative reflects the State of Qatar’s steadfast commitment to supporting its Syrian brothers and standing with them in the face of disasters and emergencies through rapid humanitarian response.

He also mentioned that last Tuesday, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call from Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, during which they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, along with discussing developments in the region.

 During the call, HE the Prime Minister reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s continued efforts with regional and international partners to de-escalate tensions and promote stability and peace in the region, stressing the importance of international solidarity to pressure all parties to ensure the success of Qatar’s joint mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of prisoners and detainees, and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Strip.

The spokesperson further noted that HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi received a phone call last Thursday from HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, where they discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to enhance it, as well as discussing several issues of mutual interest.

Additionally, during his European tour, which included Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Italy, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs met last Wednesday in Skopje with HE Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dr. Hristijan Mickoski, and HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of North Macedonia Timco Mucunski.

He also met last Friday in Rome with HE Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Edmondo Cirielli.

He pointed out that last Thursday, the State of Qatar participated in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 held in Rome, with HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, heading the State of Qatar’s delegation.

She also attended a reception hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for heads of delegations participating in the conference.

The conference discussed several key topics, including mobilizing international support for reconstruction and reform in Ukraine, providing urgent aid, implementing rapid recovery projects, attracting investment, and contributing effectively to reconstruction and social recovery, particularly in education, healthcare, and social services.

During her participation, HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation met with HE Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Maria Tripodi, where they discussed the State of Qatar’s efforts to reunite Ukrainian children affected by the war with their families as part of its ongoing mediation aimed at reuniting families separated by the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

She also reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s full support for international efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means. (QNA)