HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met at his Amiri Diwan officie Friday with the visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The meeting discussed bilateral relations and ways of supporting and developing them, in addition to discussing the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and Israel and ways to reduce escalation and protect civilians.
HE Sheikh Mohamed affirmed Qatar's firm position in condemning all forms of targeting civilians as well as its endeavour, since the first day of the confrontations, to reduce escalation, release prisoners and communicate with various parties to ensure that the confrontations are contained and its scope does not expand regionally.
He pointed to the need to strengthen joint action between Qatar, the US and the active partners in order to calm the situation, reduce the escalation, spare civilians the consequences of the fighting, and provide them with full protection in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.
HE Sheikh Mohamed warned of the danger of adopting a policy of collective punishment including calls to depopulate the northern Gaza Strip, stressing that forcing civilians to displace or take refuge in neighbouring countries is a violation of international laws and norms and would exacerbate the effects of the confrontations and double the suffering of the Palestinian people.
He also stressed that the only guarantee to achieve sustainable peace in the region is finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, ensuring the restoration of the Palestinian people rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
