HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met, in his office at the Amiri Diwan today, with HE Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken, who is visiting the country.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways of supporting and developing them, in addition to discussing the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and Israel and ways to reduce escalation and protect civilians.

During the meeting, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed the State of Qatar’s firm position in condemning all forms of targeting civilians as well as its endeavor, since the first day of the confrontations, to reduce escalation, release prisoners and communicate with various parties to ensure that the confrontations are contained and its scope does not expand regionally.

His Excellency pointed to the need to strengthen joint action between the State of Qatar, the
United States, and the active partners in order to calm the situation, reduce the escalation, spare civilians the consequences of the fighting, and provide them with full protection in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.

His Excellency warned of the danger of adopting a policy of collective punishment including calls to depopulate the northern Gaza Strip, stressing that forcing civilians to displace or take refuge in neighboring countries is a violation of international laws and norms and would exacerbate the effects of the confrontations and double the suffering of the Palestinian people.

His Excellency also stressed that the only guarantee to achieve sustainable peace in the region is finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, ensuring the restoration of the Palestinian people rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Source: Qatar News Agency