Qatari Minister Holds Meetings in Lebanon amid International Action to Help Address Crisis

 The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
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Qatari Minister Holds Meetings in Lebanon amid International Action to Help Address Crisis

 The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)

International action to help Lebanon overcome its crisis have recently come to the fore, especially the quintet meeting that recently brought together representatives of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar in Paris.

In parallel, Qatar’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, continued to hold meetings with Lebanese officials within the framework of an exploratory tour that started on Monday.

The Qatari diplomat stressed the need to maintain support for the Lebanese military institution to enable it to carry out its tasks in preserving Lebanon’s security.

A statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command said that Al-Khulaifi met with the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, with whom he discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

As part of his meetings on Tuesday, the Qatari minister met with the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, in Maarab, the day after his talks, on Monday evening, with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Walid Jumblatt.

Also on Tuesday, the head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, met with Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon, Ibrahim Al-Sahlawi, MP Tony Franjieh, and former Minister Roni Araiji. Discussions touched on the general situation and the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

In a related context, former Minister Nehme Tohme highlighted in a statement the “Arab and international role aimed at rescuing Lebanon from its crises and setbacks, and pushing the concerned political forces to elect a president for the republic to end the presidential vacuum.”

Pointing to the role of Saudi Arabia, Tohme said: “Here is the Kingdom today, maintaining its role to help our country, not to mention the economic support it provided, which had a positive impact in fortifying the Lebanese economy for many years, accompanied by its embrace of the largest Lebanese community that enjoys all appreciation and respect…”

“Saudi Arabia remains the main axis in this movement that is taking place today, whether in the quintet meeting or through its role and presence at the regional and international levels, thanks to the wisdom of the Saudi leadership and the clear vision of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman,” he added.



Palestinian Prime Minister Says Palestinian Authority Should Run Gaza in Future

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
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Palestinian Prime Minister Says Palestinian Authority Should Run Gaza in Future

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said it “will not be acceptable” for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future.

Mustafa made the comments on Wednesday as he visited Norway, one of three European countries that formally recognized a Palestinian state in May.

Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007, confining the Palestinian Authority’s limited self-rule to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The US has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood, which the Israeli government opposes.

“While we’re waiting for the ceasefire, it’s important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine," Mustafa said.

He added that “any attempt to consolidate the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, or creating transitional entities, will be rejected.”

Mustafa stressed that “we should not leave Gaza to vacuum ... We are the government of Palestine, ready to hold our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we did before.”