Qatari Diplomat Sounds Alarm Over Gaza's 'Deadly Limbo'
A top Qatari diplomat has issued a stark warning that Gaza is at risk of sliding into a deadly limbo where killing continues despite a ceasefire, unless rapid progress is made in setting up an international security force and administration to pave the way for Israel's full withdrawal.
Majed al-Ansari, adviser to Qatar's prime minister and spokesperson for the foreign ministry, expressed concern that the fragile peace may never hold if the international community fails to take concrete action. "We don't want to reach a situation of no war, no peace," he said.
The warning comes as Israeli airstrikes killed over 100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in the deadliest day since Donald Trump declared the conflict was over. The strikes were in response to an attack on Rafah city that killed a soldier carrying out demolitions there.
Gaza's future hinges on a 20-point plan for the territory's future, which underpins the ceasefire. However, the plan sidestepped basic details including the force's mandate and membership. Qatar and regional allies want it to be backed by the UN, something US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Washington is considering.
Ansari stressed that getting an international force in place quickly, along with a new Palestinian administration, was critical for the fragile peace to become lasting. "There is a need for the international community to go in, assess the damage, start thinking about reconstruction, working on reconstruction, and to formally keep the peace," he said.
However, hammering out the terms of international missions is a complex diplomatic process that normally takes weeks or months - time Gaza may not be able to afford. The ceasefire is under daily pressure, with both parties trading accusations of violations.
Ansari warned that there are "a lot of challenges" before the deal can be implemented, including excavating the remains of hostages killed and ascertaining their identities, as well as the ongoing violence against Palestinians at the hands of IDF soldiers.
The Trump administration's commitment is critical to the ceasefire's success, with Ansari saying it was the only thing that has "tipped the scales" in favor of a ceasefire. However, even if Trump ensures the ceasefire holds, turning his loose framework for Gaza's future into reality on the ground will be a long and difficult process.
The 20-point plan makes only the vaguest commitment towards a future of Palestinian self-rule and sovereignty, which Netanyahu's government has repeatedly opposed. Ansari acknowledged that Qatar had made significant progress in achieving the deal but warned that there was still much work to be done.
The situation remains precarious, with both parties refusing to budge on key issues. It remains to be seen whether Ansari's warnings can be heeded and whether a lasting peace can be achieved for Gaza's residents.
A top Qatari diplomat has issued a stark warning that Gaza is at risk of sliding into a deadly limbo where killing continues despite a ceasefire, unless rapid progress is made in setting up an international security force and administration to pave the way for Israel's full withdrawal.
Majed al-Ansari, adviser to Qatar's prime minister and spokesperson for the foreign ministry, expressed concern that the fragile peace may never hold if the international community fails to take concrete action. "We don't want to reach a situation of no war, no peace," he said.
The warning comes as Israeli airstrikes killed over 100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in the deadliest day since Donald Trump declared the conflict was over. The strikes were in response to an attack on Rafah city that killed a soldier carrying out demolitions there.
Gaza's future hinges on a 20-point plan for the territory's future, which underpins the ceasefire. However, the plan sidestepped basic details including the force's mandate and membership. Qatar and regional allies want it to be backed by the UN, something US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Washington is considering.
Ansari stressed that getting an international force in place quickly, along with a new Palestinian administration, was critical for the fragile peace to become lasting. "There is a need for the international community to go in, assess the damage, start thinking about reconstruction, working on reconstruction, and to formally keep the peace," he said.
However, hammering out the terms of international missions is a complex diplomatic process that normally takes weeks or months - time Gaza may not be able to afford. The ceasefire is under daily pressure, with both parties trading accusations of violations.
Ansari warned that there are "a lot of challenges" before the deal can be implemented, including excavating the remains of hostages killed and ascertaining their identities, as well as the ongoing violence against Palestinians at the hands of IDF soldiers.
The Trump administration's commitment is critical to the ceasefire's success, with Ansari saying it was the only thing that has "tipped the scales" in favor of a ceasefire. However, even if Trump ensures the ceasefire holds, turning his loose framework for Gaza's future into reality on the ground will be a long and difficult process.
The 20-point plan makes only the vaguest commitment towards a future of Palestinian self-rule and sovereignty, which Netanyahu's government has repeatedly opposed. Ansari acknowledged that Qatar had made significant progress in achieving the deal but warned that there was still much work to be done.
The situation remains precarious, with both parties refusing to budge on key issues. It remains to be seen whether Ansari's warnings can be heeded and whether a lasting peace can be achieved for Gaza's residents.
, but I also see this as a wake-up call for us all 
. The fact that we need an international security force to keep the peace is actually a great sign - it means people are recognizing the complexity of the situation and wanting to do something about it 
. And let's not forget that Qatar has already made significant progress on this 20-point plan, so there's still hope 
. Of course, it's scary when you see those airstrikes happening every day... but I believe we can get through this if we all work together 
. Maybe instead of "deadly limbo" we could be talking about a peaceful future for Gaza where everyone has a chance to thrive 
.
I think the international community needs to step up their game here...I mean, 100+ Palestinians killed in one day is just unacceptable. We're all still reeling from that, but now we have Qatar sounding the alarm and no one's really doing anything about it 
. A 20-point plan sounds great on paper, but like Ansari said, getting it off the ground is a whole different story. The US, UN, and other players need to put their money where their mouth is and make some real progress happen ASAP 
. We can't keep letting violence escalate like this and expect things to just magically resolve themselves 
. Gaza's residents deserve better, and so do the rest of us who are tired of living in fear 
The situation in Gaza is so tragic 
. I mean, 100+ Palestinians killed, mostly women & kids? 
It's like the clock is ticking, and if we don't get this international security force and admin in place ASAP, it'll be a never-ending cycle of violence 
. And let's be real, how many times can we rely on diplomacy and the world community to step in before things get out of hand? 
.
there were so many innocent ppl caught in the crossfire... and now ansari's saying that if we don't get an international force in place ASAP, gaza might just become a perpetual war zone 
️. And what about the 20-point plan? Sounds like a bunch of empty promises 
. The real issue is the underlying conflict and the lack of a clear solution. It's all just a game of cat and mouse between Israel and Palestine 
. And what about the civilians caught in the middle? They're just pawns being used as bait for global superpowers 
.
. It's not just about Gaza or Palestine; it's about who gets to control the narrative and dictate the course of events 
. I'm calling BS on all of this 
.
, and it was literally chasing the spatula around the kitchen, knocking over utensils everywhere 
. I'm like, totally serious about that cat now – it's like it has its own tiny chef hat on 
. Meanwhile, back in Gaza... yeah, that sounds super dire 
. like, he thinks the ceasefire might not hold unless they get an int'l security force in place ASAP 
. but there are so many challenges to overcome 
. it's crazy that we're still stuck on this delicate situation 
. i think qatar is trying to help facilitate a peace deal, but it's not gonna be easy 
️. can't wait to see what happens next 
this situation is super worrisome - like, the lives of innocent ppl in gaza r hanging by a thread 
& it's hard 2 watch. major progress needs 2 b made ASAP 4 an int'l security force & admin to be set up in Gaza, or else it'll just keep being stuck in this limbo where violence keeps escalating 
. i'm so tired of hearing about ppl getting caught in the middle of this conflict 
time is of the essence here
. I think an international force would really help stabilize the situation, but it sounds like it's going to take some time to figure out the details 
. And the fact that there are still people missing and their identities unknown is just heartbreaking 
.
What about Palestine's own people? Shouldn't they be the ones makin' these decisions?