The government of Qatar, which is mediating alongside Egypt and the United States the truce in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, said on Tuesday that it was "satisfied" so far with the implementation of the ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, which today is in its third day.
“As for the truce, we are satisfied with the level of implementation so far, and as you can see, the agreement and the ceasefire will continue in the Gaza Strip, and humanitarian aid will enter as agreed,” said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari at a press conference in Doha.
“More than 915 trucks have entered the country so far and we have great confidence in the commitment of both sides to implement the agreement,” he said, adding that the Cairo-based committee overseeing the truce “continues its work” to prevent any violations.
Al Ansari said the negotiating teams are “putting all the details and final lists of the next exchange, which we believe will be implemented more smoothly.”
Also, he highlighted that The new Trump administration is supporting the deal and appreciated the efforts it has made.
“We are working with our mediation partners, the US and Egypt, the ground teams of the operations committee in Cairo who are supporting the continuation of this mediation and preparing the next stage of the agreement. And we appreciate the positive participation of the Trump administration in the negotiations, which contributed to reaching this agreement,” he said.
Al Ansari said there are “many logistical challenges related to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which is totally destroyed. We are talking about 80% of residential buildings completely destroyed, the Palestinian brothers in Gaza are returning to the ruins of their homes.”
The ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and Hamas includes three phases, the first of which began two days ago and stipulates the cessation of attacks and fighting in the Strip for a period of 42 days, during which 33 hostages held in the enclave will be gradually exchanged for some 1.900 Palestinian terrorist prisoners.
Israel and Hamas are due to negotiate the terms of the second phase of the agreement, which would lead to a definitive cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, starting on the 16th day of the ceasefire.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.