GCC Slams German Remarks over Qatar’s Hosting of World Cup

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1
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GCC Slams German Remarks over Qatar’s Hosting of World Cup

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf condemned on Saturday remarks by Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser over Qatar’s hosting of the football World Cup in November.

In a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Hajraf underscored the stance of GCC countries in supporting Qatar in confronting any interference in its internal affairs.

The GCC supports Doha as it confronts claims that do not serve the establishment of natural relations between countries, deeming the meddling a violation of norms, traditions, diplomacy and international laws.

Qatar continues to forge ahead in making achievements and hosting the landmark event next month, he added, saying it was a “deserved source of pride” for the nation.

Al-Hajraf praised the pioneering role Qatar is playing in building bridges between civilizations and bolstering understanding between peoples within the boundaries of mutual respect.

On Friday, Qatar announced that it had summoned the German ambassador over Faeser’s remarks, handing him a memo of complaint.

The Foreign Ministry said it summoned the ambassador to convey its “disappointment and complete rejection and condemnation” of Faeser's remarks, demanding a clarification.

In the complaint, the ministry expressed Qatar's complete rejection of those remarks made towards a country whose hosting of the World Cup was justice done to a region suffering from an unjust stereotype for decades, reported Qatar’s state news agency QNA.

Qatar is determined to organize one of the best editions to showcase the region's civilization and heritage to the whole world, it stressed.

The memo said Faeser’s remarks ahead of her official visit to Doha next week violated diplomatic norms and conventions, especially in light of the distinguished ties between Qatar and Germany in all fields.

The memo noted that the most prominent human rights groups and UN agencies praised the reforms implemented by Qatar in the labor field, given they were effective and long-term, as well as being a result of years of planning and studies. The memo highlighted that the reforms included many labor laws and practices related to them.

Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari described the German official's remarks as unacceptable and provocative to the Qatari people.

He stressed that it was unacceptable for politicians to try and score political points locally at the expense of their relations with other countries.



Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
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Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo

Qatar's prime minister said on Sunday that efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza have made some progress but an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war remains elusive.

"We have seen on Thursday a bit of progress compared to other meetings yet we need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's the key point of the entire negotiations," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, Reuters reported.

Mossad Director David Barnea traveled to Doha on Thursday to meet Sheikh Mohammed amid efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza, Axios reported last week.

Sheikh Mohammed didn't say which elements of the ceasefire talks had progressed in recent days, but said Hamas and Israel remained at odds over the ultimate goal of negotiations.

He said the militant group is willing to return all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel ends the war in Gaza. But Israel wants Hamas to release the remaining hostages without offering a clear vision on ending the war, he said.

"When you don't have a common objective, a common goal between the parties, I believe the opportunities (to end the war) become very thin," Sheikh Mohammed said at a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Fidan said talks Turkish officials have held with Hamas had shown the group would be more open to an agreement that goes beyond a ceasefire in Gaza and aims for a lasting solution to the crisis with Israel, including a two-state solution.

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a January ceasefire collapsed, saying it would keep up pressure on Hamas until it frees the remaining hostages still held in the enclave. Up to 24 of them are believed to still be alive.

The Gaza war started after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 51,400, according to local health officials.