Qatar’s prime minister has issued a stark warning that repeated Israeli breaches of the Gaza ceasefire risk collapsing the fragile truce, as humanitarian conditions in the enclave deteriorate under severe winter storms.
Speaking after talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said delays and violations “endanger the entire process and place mediators in a difficult position.”
He stressed that humanitarian aid must reach Gaza “unconditionally” and urged immediate progress to the second phase of the US-backed agreement.
Since the ceasefire began on 10 October, Israel has been accused of violating the truce hundreds of times, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian deaths and injuries. Al Jazeera reports at least 738 violations, with 394 Palestinians killed and more than 1,000 wounded.
The assassination of senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in Gaza City last weekend marked a critical escalation, prompting US President Donald Trump to say his administration was “looking into” whether the strike breached the truce.
American officials reportedly rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning him not to undermine Trump’s role in brokering the deal.
The humanitarian situation has worsened dramatically as winter storms batter Gaza. The United Nations has confirmed that tents, blankets and other essential supplies are ready but remain blocked at border crossings by Israeli authorities.
Aid delivery has been severely restricted, with only 39 percent of trucks reaching their destinations. Reports from Gaza’s Ministry of Health highlight the deaths of infants from hypothermia, including a 29-day-old baby in Khan Younis and a two-week-old in Gaza City, underscoring the vulnerability of displaced families. The UN estimates that 30,000 children have been affected by storm damage to shelters.
Discussions at the US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue also focused on the proposed international stabilisation force, expected to include Indonesian and Turkish troops.
Israel has resisted Turkiye’s involvement, complicating negotiations. Hamas leaders have warned that continued Israeli violations “threaten the viability of the agreement” and urged Washington to compel Israel to honour its commitments.
The second phase of the ceasefire plan envisions Hamas disarming, Israeli forces withdrawing, and an international force deploying in Gaza.
Netanyahu has said Israel is “nearing the end of the first phase” and is working to recover the remains of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, the last deceased captive held in Gaza.
However, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners’ bodies returned by Israel reportedly show signs of torture and execution, raising further concerns about the truce’s sustainability.
As winter storms intensify and ceasefire breaches mount, Qatar’s warning highlights the precariousness of the process and the urgent need for international pressure to prevent the agreement from unravelling.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Tempo, Daily Times, UN News
