Qatar PM says talks on stage 2 of hostage-ceasefire deal should start as soon as possible: ‘We’re pushing for this’

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani speaks on the sideline of the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos on January 21, 2025. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)
Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani speaks on the sideline of the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos on January 21, 2025. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani tells the Walla news site that he is ready to start talks as soon as possible on the second stage of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal, even ahead of the deadline date for the discussions to begin.

The Qatari prime minister tells the outlet that he plans to speak to Mossad head David Barnea this week to begin discussing negotiations on the second phase of the agreement: “We are pushing for this.”

An unnamed senior Israeli official tells the site that they have “no problem” beginning the talks before day 16.

“Negotiations on the first phase have lasted months, and reaching an agreement on the second phase may also take a long time,” the official says. Previously, Israeli officials have said the discussions will begin on day 16.

An Israeli official tells the site that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Barnea held talks on the deal during their Cairo meetings with Egyptian intelligence officials this week, but notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet held a meeting on the second phase of the deal.

The official adds that Israel will continue to demand that Hamas not be permitted to govern Gaza after the war. According to Walla, Egypt has been working with Palestinian factions in recent weeks to establish a what it calls a “civilian committee” to potentially run Gaza alongside the international community and representatives of the Palestinian Authority.

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