Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Wednesday that Doha is exerting pressure on Hamas to acknowledge the need to disarm, describing recent developments in Gaza as “deeply disappointing.” He added that it has become clear that the group is willing to relinquish control over the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Sheikh Mohammed said, “We are trying to push Hamas to recognize the necessity of disarmament.” He noted that Tuesday’s violence in Gaza which saw Israeli airstrikes following clashes that killed an Israeli soldier represented a “serious violation” of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
“Yesterday’s events were very discouraging for us,” he said. “The attack on Israeli soldiers was a breach of the ceasefire, and we are urging all parties to maintain restraint.”
Despite the escalation, the Qatari leader expressed cautious optimism about the truce’s endurance. “Fortunately, I believe both main parties acknowledge the need for the ceasefire to hold and to respect the agreement,” he said.
Israel Resumes Ceasefire, Warns of Harsh Response to Violations
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced that it would resume implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. In a statement, the army said its forces “will continue to enforce the Gaza ceasefire deal” but warned that they would “respond forcefully to any violations.”
The statement added that Israeli operations had “targeted more than 30 senior Hamas operatives in Gaza” over the past day.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that “no Hamas leader enjoys immunity,” vowing that anyone involved in attacks on Israeli forces “will pay the full price.” He said the military had been instructed to strike “any Hamas target with full force,” confirming that dozens of militant sites were hit in recent operations.
Hamas Denies Breaking Ceasefire
Israel’s renewed strikes came after it accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by engaging Israeli troops in Rafah, southern Gaza an incident that left one soldier dead. Hamas denied any involvement, insisting that it remains committed to the truce.
“The claims of our involvement in Rafah are false,” a Hamas spokesperson said. “We remain committed to the ceasefire agreement brokered by international mediators.”
U.S. Backs Fragile Truce
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance both reiterated that the Gaza ceasefire remains in effect despite repeated violations. The truce, brokered by Washington roughly three weeks ago, has faced multiple challenges amid continued hostilities and mutual accusations of breaches.
For Qatar, a key mediator in previous Gaza negotiations, the renewed fighting has underscored the fragility of the current arrangement. Sheikh Mohammed said Doha would continue its diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and to encourage all parties to return to dialogue.
