QNA/Doha

 

HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah has said that the demands of Palestinians for an end to Israeli aggression are just while stressing that Qatar’s position on a ceasefire entails ending the attack on Gaza strip and lifting the siege.

“The goals of the (recent) Paris conference on Gaza are to brief representatives of the EU (Italy, France and Germany) and the United Kingdom on the outcome of negotiations and how could all parties involved reach a ceasefire,” he said in an interview to Al-Jazeera channel.

The minister dismissed reports that the conference was to extend the humanitarian ceasefire, stressing that the main goal was to lift the siege on Gaza.

He said that Gaza Strip had been living in abysmal conditions since 1967 and “Israel’s withdrawal in 2005 was only aimed to isolate the Strip demographically even further”.

On the kidnapping of three Israeli teens in the West Bank, the minister said that Palestinian factions had long been the first to claim responsibility for such events. “However this was not the case with the June 12 incident. In response, Israel waged a war with fighter jets and tanks from June 12 to July 6.”

The  minister said that in addition to quick death by Israeli firing, the Gaza Strip was facing a slow death through the siege which left them no option but to defend themselves for a
better life.

He highlighted Israel’s continued disrespect for most of agreements signed between the two parties, giving an example with the ceasefire deal in 2012. The agreement was to establish a ceasefire in return for releasing prisoners in Israeli prison which did not happen.

Al-Attiyah provided another example with 2011 agreement of Israeli soldier Shalit. The agreement was to exchange Shalit with Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel incarcerated more Palestinians from the West Bank.

The minister said that the demands of the people of Gaza were to implement the 2012 and 2011 agreements, in addition to establishing a commercial port that would help the people in Gaza earn a living. The demands also included establishing Gaza’s sovereignty over its territorial water.

On a report of disagreement with Egypt’s role and whether there was a Qatari-Turkish coalition against Egypt’s role, the minister dismissed the report saying that Qatar, Turkey and the Arab World valued Egypt’s role.

He revealed that Qatar had been in contact with Egyptian authorities to offer their support and said that Egypt, based on geography, would be the country most concerned with developments in Gaza.

On Israel’s position to refuse an extension to the ceasefire, the minister said that the Israeli government had been operating outside the scope of international law and all international conventions. “However, no one will abandon Palestinians; the Palestinian cause is the cause of all Arab and Islamic countries.”

On Israel’s allegations that Qatar finances terrorism, the minister said that Israeli ministers of finance and foreign affairs were exercising terrorism themselves and not just
supporting it.

Al-Attiyah also denied that Qatar and Turkey were pressuring Hamas in any way, saying that their role was only to convey the demands of Palestinians in a transparent and honest way. “Many members of the international community feel for the struggle of Hamas, but due to many considerations could not make those feelings public.”

The minister said that the Palestinian side worked productively with US Secretary of State John Kerry over the past few days. “However, all the good work was undone by the Israeli cabinet’s rejection.”

He stressed that the Palestinians’ resistance is legitimate and would continue until they free their land. “Those who want peace must commit to peace agreements.”

The minister warned that Israel could no longer enter the West Bank and Gaza and attack them as in the past, adding that now Israel could pay for its action through the international community and the UN
Security Council.

 

 

 

 

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