Amid discussions over the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone conversation with Hamas Political Bureau chief Khalil Al-Hayya. According to Hamas, the conversation focused on the situation in Gaza and efforts to move forward with the ceasefire agreement.
During the phone call, Khalil Al-Hayya reaffirmed Hamas’s commitment to serving the Palestinian people and supporting what it describes as their just cause. He also reiterated the movement’s commitment to safeguarding its national principles and continuing efforts to protect Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and elsewhere.
The Qatari Prime Minister welcomed Hamas’s acceptance of the roadmap aimed at completing the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. He expressed hope that the roadmap would contribute to ending the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and help fulfill their aspirations for security and stability.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman also called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by putting pressure on Israel to honor its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. He stressed the need to end what he described as ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, ensure the full implementation of the roadmap and pave the way toward security and stability in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Hamas has maintained that Israel’s commitment to ending killings and halting attacks is the fundamental prerequisite and the first step toward implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. The movement has stressed that progress toward the next phase depends on Israel fully implementing all provisions agreed upon under the first phase.
In a statement issued on Friday, Hamas said that it and other Palestinian factions had engaged responsibly and positively with the negotiation process and proposals put forward by mediators to complete the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
According to Hamas, the Palestinian factions reached a unified national position reflecting what it described as a spirit of partnership and responsibility. The movement said the position was driven by the need to protect the Palestinian people, address their humanitarian needs and safeguard their national rights.
Hamas further said that its agreement to include the issue of heavy weapons within the framework of the agreement was explicitly conditional on several requirements. These include a complete end to all forms of Israeli aggression, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, early recovery efforts, the establishment of an administrative committee and the deployment of an international protection force.
The movement also listed the dismantling of armed groups and militias established by Israel, the launch of reconstruction efforts, guarantees for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the protection of citizens’ rights among the conditions it has outlined.
The latest developments come as discussions continue over the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, with Hamas emphasizing that further progress depends on the full implementation of the first phase and an end to Israeli attacks.