DOHA – Qatar’s Prime Minister has expressed concerns over the precarious state of the Gaza ceasefire, as its initial phase nears conclusion. On Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani highlighted that militants in Gaza still hold the remains of one Israeli hostage, indicating a critical juncture in the peace process.

Addressing an international conference in Doha, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the role of international mediators, particularly the U.S., in steering efforts towards a more stable second phase of the agreement. “What we have just done is a pause,” he remarked at the Doha Forum, clarifying, “We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire.”

He elaborated that for a genuine ceasefire to be declared, several conditions must be met. These include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the restoration of stability in Gaza, allowing for the free movement of people—conditions that are not currently present.

The ceasefire has indeed halted intense fighting that marked the two-year conflict. However, according to Gaza health officials, over 360 Palestinians have continued to suffer casualties from Israeli actions since the truce was implemented in October.

In a recent escalation, two Palestinians lost their lives during an Israeli airstrike northwest of Gaza City, as reported by Shifa Hospital. This incident underscores the fragile nature of the current cessation of hostilities.

In new violence, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike northwest of Gaza City, Shifa Hospital said.

There was no immediate comment from Israel. But the Israeli army says it has carried out a number of attacks on Palestinians crossing the ceasefire lines into Israeli-controlled territory in Gaza.

Second phase hasn’t begun

The first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan took effect Oct. 10. The fighting stopped and dozens of hostages held in Gaza were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prison. Israel sent a delegation last week to Egypt for talks on returning the remains of the last hostage.

The next phase, which includes the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, formation of a new technocratic government for the territory, disarmament of Hamas and an eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has not yet begun.

Arab and Western officials told The Associated Press on Friday that an international body overseeing the ceasefire, to be led by Trump himself, is expected to be appointed by the end of the year. In the long term, the plan also calls for a possible “pathway” to Palestinian independence.

Sheikh Mohammed said that even the upcoming phase should be “temporary” and that peace in the region could only take place with the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state — something that is opposed by Israel’s hard-line government.

“If we are just resolving what happened in Gaza, the catastrophe that happened in the last two years, it’s not enough,” he said. “There is a root for this conflict. And this conflict is not only about Gaza.”

He added: “It’s about Gaza. It’s about the West Bank. It’s about the rights of the Palestinians for their state. We are hoping that we can work together with the U.S. administration to achieve this vision at the end of the day.”

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said there is a “big question” over the formation of an international security force for Gaza. Speaking at the same conference, he said it’s unclear which countries will be joining the force, what the command structure would look like and what its “first mission” will be.

Turkey is one of the “guarantors” of the ceasefire, but Israel, which has rocky relations with the Ankara government, has rejected any Turkish participation in the force.

“Thousands of details, questions are in place,” Fidan said. “I think once we deploy ISF, the rest will come.”

Over 70,000 killed

The war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants entered Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking over 250 people hostage. Israel responded with an offensive that has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says that nearly half the dead have been women and children. The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas government and its numbers are considered reliable by the U.N. and other international bodies.

Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

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