Qatar’s prime minister says he has seen renewed momentum in Gaza ceasefire efforts since the US presidential election, seeking an end to the conflict before the incoming Trump administration takes office. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the main mediator in the ceasefire effort, declined to give details of the talks but told an international conference in Doha that the gap between the sides was not wide.
Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator in the 14-month-long war, suspended its efforts last month in frustration over lack of progress. But Sheikh Mohammed said his government had re-engaged in recent days after both sides determined a new willingness to reach an agreement.
He told the Doha Forum on Saturday, ‘After the election, we have felt that the momentum has returned.
He said he has been in contact with both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration and found that while there are some differences in approach, both are committed to the same goal of ending the war.
“We had a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration to achieve a deal even before the president came into office,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
He declined to discuss details, saying he wanted to “protect the process” but hoped for a deal “as soon as possible”. “If you look at the gaps and disagreements, they’re not really anything concrete that affects the deal,” he said.