PARIS: The emir of Qatar on Tuesday warned of a race against time to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza through diplomatic efforts in which his country is playing a major role.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made the remarks at a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in his honor in Paris. He added that the two nations are working closely on Gaza but also warned against the rising human losses.
He added that the world is currently witnessing a genocide of the Palestinian people adding that forced displacement, hunger, savage bombardments are used as weapons.
The emir went on to say that the global community still hasn’t managed to adopt a unified stance to end the war in Gaza and ensure protection for children, women and civilians.
“We are in a race against time to bring the hostages back to their families and at the same time we must work to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he said.
The two-day state visit of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is his first he became emir of Qatar in 2013.
His meetings with President Emmanuel Macron come at a time as negotiators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar have been working to broker a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said that Israel would be willing to halt its war in Gaza during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan if a ceasefire agreement is reached.
The beginning of Ramadan, which is likely to be around March 10, is seen as an unofficial deadline for a ceasefire agreement.
France and Qatar also facilitated a deal in January for the delivery of medicine for hostages held by Hamas. Qatar authorities last week confirmed that Hamas has started giving the medication.
