Qatar PM Calls on Hamas, Israel to Begin Immediate Talks on Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two

 Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan give a joint press conference in Doha on February 2, 2025. (AFP)
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan give a joint press conference in Doha on February 2, 2025. (AFP)
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Qatar PM Calls on Hamas, Israel to Begin Immediate Talks on Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two

 Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan give a joint press conference in Doha on February 2, 2025. (AFP)
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan give a joint press conference in Doha on February 2, 2025. (AFP)

Qatar's prime minister on Sunday called on Israel and Hamas to immediately begin negotiating phase two of the Gaza ceasefire, adding that there is no clear plan for when talks will begin.

"We demand (Hamas and Israel) to engage immediately as stipulated in the agreement," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said at a press conference held jointly with Türkiye's foreign minister in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday.

According to the ceasefire agreement , negotiations on implementing the second phase of the deal should begin before the 16th day of phase one of the ceasefire, which is Monday.

Israel and Hamas last month reached a complex three-phase accord that has halted the fighting in Gaza. Hamas has so far released 18 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

There are more than 70 hostages still held in Gaza.

The second stage of the accord is expected to include Hamas releasing all remaining hostages held in Gaza, a permanent end to hostilities and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

"There is nothing yet clear about where the delegations will come and when it's going to take place," Sheikh Mohammed said.

Mediators have engaged with Hamas and Israel over the phone and Qatar has set an agenda for the next phase of negotiations, he said.

"We hope that we start to see some movement in the next few days. It's critical that we get things rolling from now in order to get to an agreement before day 42."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he would begin negotiations on phase two of the agreement on Monday in Washington, when he is set to meet US President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff.

During his meeting with Witkoff, Netanyahu will discuss Israel's positions in respect to the ceasefire, the prime minister's office said. Witkoff will then speak with officials from Egypt and Qatar, who have mediated between Israel and Hamas over the past 15 months with backing from Washington.



At Crown Prince’s Directives, Saudi Arabia Committed to Supporting Efforts to Resolve Ukraine-Russia Crisis

This handout photograph released in Jeddah by the official Telegram channel of Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak on March 11, 2025 shows Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak (R), Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha (2nd R), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) and US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz (L) posing at the beginning of the Ukrainian and US delegations meeting, amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis. (Handout / Telegram /@ermaka2022 / AFP)
This handout photograph released in Jeddah by the official Telegram channel of Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak on March 11, 2025 shows Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak (R), Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha (2nd R), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) and US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz (L) posing at the beginning of the Ukrainian and US delegations meeting, amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis. (Handout / Telegram /@ermaka2022 / AFP)
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At Crown Prince’s Directives, Saudi Arabia Committed to Supporting Efforts to Resolve Ukraine-Russia Crisis

This handout photograph released in Jeddah by the official Telegram channel of Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak on March 11, 2025 shows Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak (R), Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha (2nd R), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) and US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz (L) posing at the beginning of the Ukrainian and US delegations meeting, amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis. (Handout / Telegram /@ermaka2022 / AFP)
This handout photograph released in Jeddah by the official Telegram channel of Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak on March 11, 2025 shows Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak (R), Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha (2nd R), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) and US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz (L) posing at the beginning of the Ukrainian and US delegations meeting, amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis. (Handout / Telegram /@ermaka2022 / AFP)

Upon the directives of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia hosted on Tuesday talks between the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah as part of the Kingdom's efforts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to resolve the crisis are thanks to its balanced relationships with various stakeholders and its commitment to promoting international security and peace.

This commitment stems from the Kingdom’s belief in upholding international laws and standards, with dialogue seen as the most effective way to resolve disputes and bring viewpoints closer together, ultimately strengthening international security and stability.

At the summit, the US was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, while the Ukrainian side was represented by Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Minister of State and Cabinet Member Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban also attended the talks.