Qatar and Egypt say they are working together on Gaza truce, reject reports of rift

Qatar and Egypt say in a joint statement that the two countries are working together “with a shared vision to bring an end to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza” by securing a ceasefire.

The statement also pushes back against what it describes as recent attempts to create a rift between the “sister countries” via the media.

Reports have surfaced in recent months portraying strained ties between the countries, with each downplaying the others’ contribution to efforts to end the fighting in Gaza and free the hostages.

The allegations came to the fore in connection with the so-called Qatargate scandal in Israel, which revolves around suspicions that advisers to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received money from Doha to launch a media campaign aimed at undermining Egypt’s role as mediator and bolster Qatar’s influence in the ceasefire negotiations.