DOHA – On December 28, 2024, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with a Hamas delegation in Doha to discuss a “clear and comprehensive” ceasefire deal aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza. The meeting, which included senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, was confirmed by a statement from Qatar’s foreign ministry.
Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar’s Foreign Minister, rarely participates publicly in the mediation process, which has been stalled for months. During the talks, the latest developments in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations were reviewed, and strategies to advance the process were discussed to ensure a comprehensive agreement that would bring an end to the conflict.
Earlier this month, Sheikh Mohammed expressed optimism about the renewed momentum in the talks following Donald Trump’s election victory in the United States. Speaking at the Doha Forum political conference, he noted, “We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back.” He added that the incoming Trump administration had provided “a lot of encouragement in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office.”
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. In November, Doha announced it had paused its mediation efforts, stating that it would resume when Hamas and Israel demonstrated “willingness and seriousness.” However, indirect negotiations hosted by Doha this month showed some progress, despite both Hamas and Israel accusing each other of creating obstacles.
The Gaza war was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,208 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since killed at least 45,484 people in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains hopeful for a resolution that will bring lasting peace to the region. Further updates on the ceasefire negotiations are expected in the coming days.