Doha: Qatar has announced that it is actively engaging with international partners in efforts to open the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. This development comes in the wake of Qatar's firm stance against what it terms as Israeli political blackmail.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, stated during a press conference in Doha that Qatar has been collaborating closely with Egypt, Turkey, and the United States since the onset of the current situation to facilitate the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Despite the ongoing efforts, al-Ansari acknowledged the presence of numerous obstacles in the path of these discussions.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has asserted that Israel will not reopen the Rafah crossing until the remains of the last Israeli captive are returned from Gaza. Al-Ansari responded to this by denouncing the use of political blackmail, emphasizing that humanitarian aid should not be manipulated as a political instrument in disputes. He reiterated Qatar's continued efforts with partners to establish understandings necessary to open the Rafah crossing and advance the agreement to its next phase.
Israel's public broadcaster, KAN, reported Netanyahu's declaration following his return from the US, where he purportedly agreed with Washington officials to keep the terminal closed until the remains of the last Israeli hostage are returned. Additionally, Netanyahu has indicated that Israel intends to establish a deadline for Hamas to disarm.
Since May 2024, Israel has enforced a complete closure of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing as part of a prolonged offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the deaths of over 71,400 people, primarily women and children, and injuries to more than 171,000 individuals since October 2023.
Hamas has complied with the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that commenced on October 10, releasing all living Israeli captives and the remains of 28 others. However, the group claims it is still in search of the body of the last Israeli captive amidst the widespread devastation in Gaza.
Following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army has been accused of committing hundreds of violations, resulting in the deaths of 422 Palestinians and injuries to 1,189 others, as reported by the Health Ministry.