Qatar hopes Lebanon ceasefire is ‘model’ for Gaza truce

Qatar on Wednesday said it hoped Israel and Hezbollah’s ceasefire would lead to a truce in Gaza, as fellow Gulf powers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also welcomed the deal.

Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, said the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire could serve as a “model” for Gaza after months of fruitless negotiations to end Israel’s devastating war on the enclave.

“The State of Qatar welcomes the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and hopes it will serve as a model for a similar agreement to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip,” Qatar’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ceasefire that began early Wednesday is aimed at ending over a year of Israeli attacks which have killed thousands in Lebanon and caused mass displacement on both sides of the border.

Israel escalated attacks on Lebanon in September after almost a year of cross-border strikes with Hezbollah.

“Qatar believes this agreement will pave the way for a broader consensus that ensures lasting peace and stability in the region,” the foreign ministry said.

Saudi Arabia also welcomed the ceasefire and praised the efforts of France and the United States in securing it.

Saudi Arabia “appreciates all international efforts made in this regard”, a foreign ministry statement said, calling for the “preservation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability and the return of the displaced”.

The UAE’s foreign ministry said it hoped “the agreement and commitment to it will lead to a permanent ceasefire”.

Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, was involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and captive release.

This month it put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed “willingness and seriousness”.

Welcoming the Lebanon ceasefire, US President Joe Biden said the United States, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Israel would “make another push” in coming days for a ceasefire in Gaza.

On Wednesday, Hamas told AFP it had informed Qatar, Egypt and Turkey it was “ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners”, and accused Israel of obstructing a deal.

Before the ceasefire was formally approved by his government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, said the truce in Lebanon would permit Israel to redirect its efforts back to Gaza.

“When Hezbollah is out of the picture, Hamas is left alone in the fight. Our pressure on it will intensify,” he said.