Qatar and Egypt, the guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, have called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of an international stabilisation force as essential steps to fully implement the fragile peace agreement. The measures, outlined in a US- and UN-backed plan, are seen as critical for moving beyond the first phase of the deal, which has largely halted fighting but remains delicate.
Speaking at the Doha Forum, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed that a ceasefire cannot be completed without a full Israeli withdrawal and the restoration of stability in Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty echoed this, urging the deployment of an international force to monitor the truce, citing daily violations by Israel.
Key sticking points include Hamas's disarmament, which the group has linked to the end of Israeli occupation. Hamas's chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, stated that weapons would be placed under Palestinian authority once the occupation ends. Under the UN-endorsed plan, a transitional governing body called the 'Board of Peace' would administer Gaza, with an international stabilisation force deployed.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Hamas's disarmament should not be the main priority and urged US intervention to prevent the plan's failure. He noted that daily Israeli ceasefire violations risk derailing the process. The guarantors are working to force the next phase, which Sheikh Mohammed described as temporary, calling for a lasting solution providing justice for both peoples.
