US, Qatar officials meet to advance second phase of Gaza ceasefire
The meeting marked the launch of the seventh US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue and focused on enhancing cooperation on shared economic and security objectives. “The Secretary and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Qatar,” the State Department readout said, though it did not explicitly reference Gaza or ceasefire negotiations.
Rubio expressed appreciation for Qatar’s support of US objectives in the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere, emphasizing the countries’ commitment to close collaboration on shared goals.
The meeting comes two months after the initial Gaza ceasefire, which included a halt to hostilities, partial Israeli withdrawal, hostage exchanges, and humanitarian aid deliveries. The proposed second phase of the ceasefire, as outlined in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, envisions the deployment of an international stabilization force (ISF), Hamas disarmament, full Israeli withdrawal, and the formation of a technocratic Palestinian authority.
Following the Washington meetings, Al Thani told Qatar-based Al Jazeera that the country raised concerns about repeated ceasefire violations in Gaza, noting that such breaches “place mediators in an embarrassing position.” He emphasized: “We do not want a stabilization force in Gaza that serves to protect one party at the expense of another.”
In addition to his meetings with Rubio, the Qatari prime minister held talks with US lawmakers, including Senators Steve Daines, Roger Wayne Marshall, Markwayne Mullin, Jacky Rosen, Brian Schatz, James Lankford, and Representatives Ronny Jackson, Jimmy Panetta, and Josh Gottheimer.
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