Fighting has eased, but Israel continues strikes in Gaza as both sides trade blame for ceasefire violations
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani attends a session on the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. PHOTO: AFP
Negotiations to consolidate the US-backed ceasefire in the war in Gaza are at a “critical” moment, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Saturday.
Mediators are working to advance the next phase of the ceasefire, al-Thani, whose country has been a key mediator in the war, said during a discussion at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar.
Violence has subsided but not stopped since the Gaza ceasefire came into force on 10 October.
“We are at a critical moment. He is not there yet. So what we have just done is a pause,” al-Thani said.
“We cannot consider it a ceasefire yet. A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces – (until) there is stability back in Gaza, people coming in and out – which is not happening today.”
Talks on the next stages of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war in the Palestinian enclave are continuing.
Read more: Foreign Ministry Muslims are “concerned” about a one-way exit from Gaza
The plan calls for an interim technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza, overseen by an international “peace council” and backed by an international security force. Agreement on the composition and mandate of this force was particularly difficult.
On Thursday, an Israeli delegation held talks in Cairo with mediators on the return of the last hostage held in Gaza, which would complete an initial part of Trump’s plan.
Since the ceasefire began, Hamas has returned all 20 live hostages and 27 bodies in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and condemned prisoners.
Although the fighting has eased, Israel has continued to attack Gaza and demolish what it says is Hamas infrastructure. Hamas and Israel have traded blame for violations.
Palestinian local health authorities said on Saturday that Israeli fire killed five people in Beit Lahiya and Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The Israeli military said that in two separate incidents on Saturday, forces deployed in northern Gaza behind the so-called yellow withdrawal line agreed to in the ceasefire had fired on Palestinian fighters who crossed the line, killing three.
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