Second Qatari plane lands in Ben-Gurion airport, hopes to extend deal
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High-profile meetings between Qatar and the Israelis have been conducted within the last few weeks which played a crucial role in reaching a deal.
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A Qatar Airways plane lands at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, as the sun rises on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
An official plane from Qatar landed at Israeli Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday for the second time this week.
High-profile meetings between Qatar and the Israelis have been conducted within the last few weeks which played a crucial role in reaching a deal to release captives from each side.
Qatari FM: We have confirmation that 20 captives will be exchanged
The official spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majid bin Muhammad Al-Ansari, said that the ministry has "confirmation from the Hamas movement that there are 20 prisoners who will be returned within two days."
During a press conference today, Al-Ansari stressed that Qatar is working to strengthen its mediation role in "reaching a truce and then a permanent ceasefire."
Al-Ansari stressed that "the priorities for mediation are women and children, then civilian men, then military personnel," explaining that the delay in handing over prisoners that occurred yesterday, Monday, "is due to logistical matters."
Al-Ansari pointed out that "it is not possible to talk about the details of the mediation," especially if it relates to "the challenges faced by both parties,” adding that the goal of his country’s mediation is "to reach an agreement for a longer humanitarian truce in Gaza."
The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman touched on the issue of necessary humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, noting that there was "an increase in the percentage of aid entering the Gaza Strip," but he stressed that it did not live up to expectations.
He announced his country's support for "pressure to bring aid into northern Gaza," adding that Qatar wants to ensure the continuation of aid to Gaza "through an open, non-stop line."
Regarding the future of the solution and the outcome of events, Al-Ansari stressed during the press conference that the Palestinian people “are the decision-makers regarding their future.”
This follows an agreement to extend the truce deal in return for a prisoner exchange between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, which was officially reached on Monday evening, Resistance party Hamas said in a statement.
The group confirmed that a 2-day extension was agreed upon with Cairo and Doha under the same terms as the previous truce. A spokesperson of the Qatari Foreign Ministry also announced that the agreement was reached "as part of the ongoing mediation" by Doha.
Read next: Qatar: 'Israel' heavy bombing preventing captive release from Gaza
The agreement was for the truce to last four days, entailing the liberation of several imprisoned Palestinian women and minors (under the age of 19) from Israeli occupation jails and the admission of relief aid and fuel in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Moving to a permanent ceasefire
Last week, foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar united in urging swift international intervention to force the Israeli government to halt its brutal actions, which openly violate international law, in Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, discussed the ongoing developments in Palestine, specifically addressing "Israel's" egregious assaults on Gaza.
In the same context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Amir-Abdollahian, repeated their support for a rapid ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as well.
According to the statement, the conversation centered around the current situation in Palestine and the officials addressed other bilateral and international concerns.
🚨🇵🇸 Hamas announces CEASEFIRE EXTENSION:
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) November 27, 2023
“Hamas, announces that an agreement has been reached with the brethren in Qatar and Egypt to extend the temporary humanitarian ceasefire for an additional two days under the same terms as the previous truce.” pic.twitter.com/Vyn8JuCqS5
"Concern was voiced by both sides regarding the ongoing armed conflict in the Gaza Strip. The need for an immediate ceasefire and urgent assistance to the affected civilian population was emphasized."
