Israel Should Have Already Ceased Fire Under Trump Gaza Plan: Qatar
DOHA (Qatar): Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has said that Israel should have already ceased fire under President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, criticizing Tel Aviv’s continued military operations despite commitments to the U.S.-backed proposal.
Speaking at a press briefing in Doha on Tuesday, Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said that Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza contradict statements made by its leadership about adherence to Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending the conflict.
“Regarding the ceasefire, this question should be directed first to the Israeli occupation government. It was supposed to actually cease fire if the statements made by the prime minister there regarding adherence to the Trump plan were true,” Ansari said.
The Trump Gaza plan, introduced earlier this month, outlines a comprehensive framework for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the reconstruction of Gaza under an internationally supervised roadmap.
Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel are currently underway in Egypt, where mediators are attempting to bridge gaps over key provisions of the Trump proposal. According to reports, discussions have been described as “positive”, with negotiators expected to resume talks in Sharm El-Sheikh later Tuesday.
Sources close to the Palestinian delegation told AFP that the first round of negotiations lasted four hours, focusing primarily on hostage releases, withdrawal timelines, and humanitarian aid mechanisms.
After Hamas announced its willingness on Friday to discuss hostage releases under Trump’s plan, President Trump urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to ensure the safe and quick release of captives.
Qatar, a key regional mediator, has urged all parties to show restraint and commit to practical steps for peace. Ansari said that while progress is being made, the clauses of the Trump plan “require practical interpretation on the ground,” and that Doha remains engaged in constant communication with all sides.
He added that it was still “too early” to discuss the future of Hamas’s political bureau in Doha, following last month’s Israeli strike on the group’s leadership. Ansari emphasized that as long as communication channels are needed, Qatar will continue hosting such mediation efforts with U.S. support.
The Egyptian-brokered peace talks are seen as a critical test of the Trump administration’s proposal, with observers calling the negotiations the most serious attempt yet to end the Gaza war since hostilities intensified earlier this year.
