Doha, December 6,2025: Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the nearly two-month-old ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will remain incomplete until Israeli forces fully withdraw from the territory, as outlined in a US- and UN-backed peace plan.
“Now we are at a critical moment … A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces and stability returns to Gaza,” the Qatari premier said while addressing the Doha Forum, an annual high-level diplomatic gathering.
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, helped broker the long-awaited truce that took effect on October 10, largely halting two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Under the agreement’s yet-to-be-implemented second phase, Israel is required to pull back from its positions inside Gaza, governance is to be transferred to an interim authority, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be deployed.
Arab and Muslim nations have expressed reservations about joining the proposed ISF, fearing it may be drawn into direct confrontation with Palestinians.
Speaking at the forum, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said discussions on the force were ongoing but unresolved questions remained, including its command structure and the composition of contributing countries.
Its first objective, he stressed, should be “to separate Palestinians from the Israelis”.
“Then we can address the other remaining issues,” he added.
Under the 20-point plan, first outlined by former US President Donald Trump, Hamas is required to disarm, with members who surrender their weapons permitted to leave Gaza — a proposition the group has repeatedly rejected.
Turkiye has signaled interest in contributing to the stabilisation effort, though Israeli officials view Ankara’s involvement unfavourably due to its ties with Hamas.
“I think the only viable way to finish this war is to engage faithfully and forcefully in peace talks,” Fidan said.
Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar and fellow guarantors Egypt, Turkiye and the US were working closely to push forward implementation of the next phase of the plan, which he described as only a temporary step.
“If we are just resolving what happened in the last two years, it’s not enough,” he said, calling for a “lasting solution that provides justice for both people”.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held talks with the Qatari premier on the sidelines of the forum. Cairo said both officials stressed the need to maintain momentum on implementing the Sharm El-Sheikh peace agreement, signed in October.
Egypt has also announced plans to train 5,000 police officers for Gaza and is among the countries considered potential contributors to the stabilisation force.
