HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that Qatar was active diplomatically since the start of the latest events in Al Quds, especially when the provocations of settler groups began, followed by the evictions in Sheikh Jarrah, and then the provocations in Al Aqsa Mosque.
HE Sheikh Mohamed stressed that Qatar has been a reliable mediator over the years, carrying out successful mediations. He also noted that the State's ties with different parties, whether Hamas or Taliban, helped the region's security and stability.
This came in two separate televised interviews of HE Sheikh Mohamed with Al Araby TV and MSNBC, where he discussed a number of GCC and regional issues.
He said that everyone saw the value of Qatar provides when it conducted dialogues and played a mediating role with its diplomacy with various groups, noting that Qatar helped mediate many ceasefire agreements between Hamas and Israel, and stopped the conflict between the United States and the Taliban.
He added that Qatar is currently facilitating dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
He indicated that Qatar can play a role in providing a platform for the various conflicting parties to negotiate with each other in order to resolve all these disputes by peaceful means.
HE Sheikh Mohamed reviewed the timeline of the recent events in Palestine and the resulting Israeli aggression against the people in Gaza.
He said that Qatar repeated the message of the importance of ending these provocations, as they may lead to violence and possibly a new war.
He said that there was communication at various international levels, whether with allies like the US or other friendly nations, in addition to holding a ministerial meeting for at the Arab League in its current session chaired by Qatar.
HE Sheikh Mohamed said that one of the outcomes of the meeting was to establish an Arab committee that examines the recent incidents, then raises its recommendations to the UN Security Council.
He said that there was also continuous co-ordination with regional partners and the regional states concerned with this issue, in particular with Jordan and Egypt, before the war escalated in Gaza.
He added that there was Qatari communication with Hamas and other political groups in Gaza, as well as with the Palestinian authority to try and reach a de-escalation.
HE Sheikh Mohamed added that these efforts were done in co-ordination with Egypt.
He said the last few days saw a number of initiatives put forward, all of which were rejected by the Israeli side, before the Egyptian initiative gained the approval of all sides in the final two days.
He said that Qatar communicated with the Palestinian parties to encourage them to accept the initiative as a temporary de-escalation step.
He added that the Palestinian parties have concerns that the de-escalation can lead to more provocations in Al Quds, which may rise again.
On the long-term solution that can guarantee the rights of Palestinians, he said that this will be something the international parties will have to work towards.
He stressed that Qatar's message was that today's solution is temporary so long as the Israeli provocation continues without regard for its international commitments, which could lead to more violence and wars.
He added that the ongoing siege on Gaza cannot be ignored, noting that the international community has not urged all sides to return to negotiations.
He also highlighted that there wasn't a comprehensive vision for a peace process following the Arab Peace Initiative, which Israel has not considered.
HE Sheikh Mohamed said that Arab countries consider the initiative a fair resolution that establishes two countries and is fair to the Palestinian people.
He noted that the Palestinian authority tried countless times to work in accordance to that framework to no avail. He said that Qatar sees there was a sense of alertness on the international stage regarding the importance of a peace process, following the recent events that occurred with the Palestinians.
On whether Qatar contacted the Israeli or American sides following the bombing that targeted the Qatar Red Crescent Society's (QRCS) headquarters in Gaza, HE Sheikh Mohamed said that communication with Israel happens in the framework of Qatar's humanitarian projects in Gaza.
He said that Qatar has contact with the Israeli side and the Palestinian parties during times of tension.
He added that QRCS is a Qatari civil society organisation, and is certainly studying its options that protects it against similar attacks in the future.
About the type of pressures that Doha was previously subjected to, and whether its position is still consistent in the issue regarding the alliance or normalisation of ties with Israel, he said that there are some Arab countries that have made normalisation with Israel recently, and stressed that Qatar does not interfere in the affairs of other countries.
He said that Qatar and Israel opened a trade bureau when the country felt there was hope of reaching peace based on a two-state solution with Israel.
HE Sheikh Mohamed added that Qatar had an experience from the '90s until the war in 2008 when Qatar decided to close the bureau after failing to see any positive impact from the relations with Israel in reaching a resolution with the Palestinians.
He added that Qatar does not plan to normalise relations so long as there is no hope for a peace process with the Palestinian side. He noted that the reason for the Arab countries' boycott of Israel is what would happen to the Palestinian people, adding that with respect to Qatar, that reason remains and there is nothing yet to change this approach.
He maintained however that, if there is a clear peace process based on foundations like the Arab Peace Initiative that the Palestinian people are satisfied with, Qatar could then reconsider its position.
On whether ties with the US changed under the Joe Biden administration, HE Sheikh Mohamed said that Qatar's ties with US institutions have always been positive, strong, and strategic regardless of the administration.
He cited Qatar's efforts to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the United States during Donald Trump's administration, in addition to its efforts in Iraq and the peace talks between Taliban and the US, which yielded a peace agreement under the Biden administration.
HE Sheikh Mohamed noted that there is a change in US policy that is more receptive of holding a dialogue with Iran, adding that Qatar welcomes a solution to Iran's nuclear issue that sees a return to the agreement reached between the parties.
He also said that Qatar sees that the GCC must play a role in the regional security calculations with Iran, stressing that this will not happen except through a regional dialogue between GCC members and Iran to address the former's concerns.
He added that Iran for its part certainly has concerns it wants to share with the GCC, noting that His Highness the Amir called in his 2015 speech at the UN for such a dialogue.
He said that Qatar is willing to offer all it can to help achieve stability in the region, noting that the country enjoys good ties with all parties involved and is known for mediating between different parties, something that Qatar is willing to do with the US and other friendly countries to establish stability.
On the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Saudi Arabia and the state of bilateral relations, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Al-Ula declaration and its outcomes ended a difficult period for the GCC, saying Qatar engaged positively following the summit.
He added that Qatar has worked continuously and diligently since then to rebuild trust, rebuilding the relationship and framing it in the fraternal framework that it is supposed to be.
HE Sheikh Mohamed said that there is a positive vision by both the Qatari and the Saudi leadership that the two countries will overcome these differences and work to strengthen relations in the future. He also said that the visit of His Highness the Amir to Saudi Arabia came following an invitation from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, adding that there were talks on bilateral economic co-operation and enhancing the historic bilateral relations between the two countries.
He acknowledged that the GCC crisis over the past four years was difficult, but maintained that all sides want to benefit from it as lessons learned and work towards the future.
Concerning communication with officials in the United Arab Emirates, and whether there were any new requests submitted to the Qatari side from Abu Dhabi, he said that there were no new requests.
He highlighted that the outcomes of Al-Ula declaration stated that each party involved will work on resolving their concerns in a bilateral manner, saying it was normal that different countries would do more to resolve their differences at different rates.
He said that Qatar held a number of meetings with the UAE following Al-Ula declaration, adding that the Qatari side felt a positive vision to overcome the differences.
HE Sheikh Mohamed said the last of those meetings took place two or three weeks ago, adding that he is in contact with officials in the UAE.
He maintained that overcoming the current difficult period will require some time, adding that Qatar realises that the process is difficult for everyone involved, whether the governments or the people.
On whether Qatar has obtained guarantees so that the differences do not re-emerge or to avoid the blockade people were subjected to, he said that no country can get guarantees from another one.
He said that based on what they have experienced with Saudi Arabia so far, joint work and enhancing bilateral relations is the biggest guarantee against differences in the future.
He said that there must be continuous communication without interruption similar to that which took place in the GCC crisis, if all countries involved are to avoid crises in the future, stressing that this was Qatar's belief and that of the other countries based on the interactions so far.
HE Sheikh Mohamed added that Qatar believes the GCC must be strengthened as an institution by creating a mechanism to resolve conflicts, noting that the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah proposed that initiative in 2017.
On ties with Egypt, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed regret that ties with Egypt saw many tensions, but highlighted that they always remained at least at a minimum even during the crisis.
He noted that Qatari investments were not affected and that Qatari students were able to continue their education, something that Qatar appreciated.
He noted that Qatar does not have many outstanding issues with Egypt, adding that both sides welcomed the progress made in that regard.
He said that his recent visit to Egypt saw him convey Qatar's vision of enhancing bilateral ties with Egypt following those differences. Qatar sees Egypt as a major Arab and regional player, a role it supports.
He added that Qatar sees plenty of opportunities with Egypt on different regional issues, noting that the two countries' efforts in Palestine reflected the impact of Al-Ula declaration's outcomes, and how the Qatari-Egyptian co-operation helped the Palestinian people.
His Excellency said Qatar looks forward to enhancing economic co-operation and bilateral co-operation with Egypt in different fields, stressing that Qatar wants good and balanced relations with all Arab countries.
On whether Qatar got a response from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to visit Doha, HE Sheikh Mohamed said that his meeting with the Egyptian president was very positive, adding that the date of the visit will be determined later through diplomatic channels. He noted that His Highness the Amir and the Egyptian president exchanged phone calls during Ramadan and Eid, describing that as positive steps that can be built upon in the future.
On re-establishing ties with the Syrian regime, HE Sheikh Mohamed said that Qatar's position was clear on that issue given the Syrian regime is committing crimes against its people.
He added that Qatar does not see any way forward towards a political resolution that is acceptable to the Syrian people, and so as a result there is no motivation to re-establish ties.
On his recent visit to Libya and Sudan, HE Sheikh Mohamed said that the visit to Libya was made to discuss the outcomes of the political dialogue held in Geneva and the work of the unity government. He said that the visit to Tripoli was good overall.
He added that Qatar discussed if there was a need to provide support to the government in providing services to the people. He reiterated that Qatar supports the ceasefire in Libya, and a smooth transition in the country and added that Qatar wants to see sustainable stability in Libya.
On the visit to Sudan, he said Qatar has always been supportive of Sudan, noting that Qatar held the Doha Agreement to resolve the crisis in Darfur, noting that there are follow up peace talks.
He said that Sudan is facing difficult conditions, noting that Qatar will continue its support to the Sudanese people, saying Qatar is confident the current difficulty in Sudan is a result of the transitional period only, and added that Qatar looks forward to the sustainable phase where it will continue to support the Palestinian people.
