WEB DESK: Qatar has called on Israel to ‘immediately withdraw’ from the buffer zone with Syria, the Qatari Prime Minister stated on Thursday during a visit to Damascus. The remarks followed Israeli troops entering the area after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
“The Israeli occupation’s seizure of the buffer zone is a reckless act, and it must withdraw immediately,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani declared during a press conference alongside Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
A ceasefire agreement has been reached to halt 15 months of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, according to statements from Hamas, Israeli officials, and sources familiar with the negotiations. The historic deal, reported on January 15, 2025, will also see the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, marking a significant breakthrough in the prolonged conflict.
The agreement comes after several weeks of diplomatic machinations through Washington, Doha, and Cairo against an inhospitable northern winter for civilians in Gaza and negative permanence at the regional level. It was still not a formal announcement from either of the protagonist fronts: Israel and Hamas; however, senior Hamas official Basem Naim confirmed their commitment to the agreement.
“We are glad today that we have reached this agreement for stopping aggression against our people,” said Naim, who expressed sorrow that a similar agreement could not be entered into earlier.
Read More: Saudi Arabia welcomes Israel-Hamas Gaza ceasefire deal
