Amir, Biden discuss Gaza ceasefire

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani discussed with President of the friendly United States of America Joe Biden the developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to both countries' efforts to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza.This came during a phone call His Highness the Amir received from the US President Monday.The two sides also discussed the strong strategic relations between the two countries and ways to develop and enhance them, as well as discussing regional and international developments of mutual concern.The foreign ministers of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Arab Republic of Egypt held a virtual meeting Monday, during which they discussed the updates of the mediation efforts made by Qatar, Egypt, and the US to reach an exchange deal that would lead to a permanent ceasefire and the release of the hostages and detainees, in addition to bringing sufficient aid into the Gaza Strip. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE expressed their endorsement of these efforts.In a joint statement, the five countries said that the ministers discussed the proposal to achieve that goal presented by US President Joe Biden on June 2.The ministers of foreign affairs of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, and Egypt stressed that President Biden's proposal must be dealt with seriously and positively, in order to agree on a deal that ensures reaching a permanent ceasefire and allows the delivery of sufficient aid across the Gaza Strip, ending the suffering of the strip's population.The ministers emphasised the need to put an end to the aggression on Gaza and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe, as well as the return of displaced persons to their areas, the full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the strip, and launching a reconstruction process within the framework of a comprehensive plan to implement the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, to be conducted within specified timeframes and binding guarantees.On the other hand, the ministers emphasised that the implementation of the two-state solution, which embodies an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in security and peace alongside Israel, in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions, is the path to achieving security and peace for all in the region.

• G7 endorses Biden plan

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies "fully endorse and will stand behind the comprehensive" ceasefire and hostage release deal for the Gaza war outlined by US President Joe Biden and call on Hamas to accept it, a statement said yesterday.The deal "would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, with Israel's security interests and Gazan civilian safety assured," the statement said.The G7, of which Italy holds the rotating presidency for 2024, reaffirmed support "for a credible pathway towards peace leading to a two state solution."An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had accepted the framework deal for winding down the Gaza war, though he described it as flawed and in need of much more work.