The ceasefire deal is “the last chance for Gaza”, Qatar’s prime minister has said, adding: “Failure is not an option.”
In an exclusive interview with Sky News’ Yalda Hakim, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani warned that “peace won’t happen” if there is not a Palestinian state.
He also criticised parties for the time it took to reach a deal.
Qatar has been one of the key mediators between Israel and Hamas in the more than 15 months since the renewed conflict erupted.
Mr al Thani told Sky News: “What we have reached with this deal is the last chance for Gaza. To save Gaza from this war this is our last chance.
“When we talk about peace in general, peace won’t happen without a Palestinian state at the end of the day. To address the root cause of the issue and not to just address the symptoms of the issue.”
Image: Qatar’s prime minister spoke to Yalda Hakim
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Asked what the consequences of the ceasefire deal collapsing would be, he said: “Failure is not an option. That’s what all of us should aspire to.
“If it fails we will not give up we will make sure it is rehashed again and the parties are adhering to that.”
Mr al Thani said Qatar’s role was as “guarantor and mediators” and that they would make sure the deal is delivered.
He talked about creating a “safety net” for any issues to be resolved before the deal “explodes”.
Qatar’s prime minister also criticised the negotiating parties for the time it took to agree a deal, saying that it was the same framework agreed upon in December 2023.
“Which is basically 13-months of a waste of negotiating the details that has no meaning and is not worth a single life that we lost in Gaza or a single life of the hostages lost because of the bombing.”
He also touched on US president-elect Donald Trump, who he said could “create a greater impact for the region”.
Commenting on how the incoming administration has operated during negotiations, he said: “I believe if this continues to be the attitude and approach for the next four years, we can create a lot of good things for the region.”
Elaborating on the need for a Palestinian state next to an Israeli state, he said: “That’s what we are aiming for.
“And I believe this moment we count on the wisdom of the leadership of the world. To really push for a solution at the end to the day.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Donald Trump “let’s do a deal” as he offered the US a partnership over Ukraine’s stores of rare earth and minerals.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump said he wanted Ukraine to supply the US with critical resources in exchange for financial support in its war with Russia.
In an interview with Reuters on Friday, Mr Zelenskyy said: “If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it.”
While emphasising that Kyiv was not proposing “giving away” its resources, he said he was open to a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them jointly.
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals that are vital in the production of high-performance magnets, electric motors and consumer electronics.
Mr Zelenskyy touted the country’s reserves of titanium and uranium as Europe’s largest.
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According to the World Economic Forum, Ukrainealso has the potential to become a key supplier of lithium, beryllium, manganese, gallium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite and nickel.
Showing a map of Ukraine’s mineral deposits, he then said Russiacurrently has control of less than 20% of the country’s mineral resources – but that includes about half its rare earth deposits.
Image: Zelenskyy said Ukraine has Europe’s largest stores of titanium and uranium. Pic: Reuters
“Putin is not just grabbing them [minerals] along with the land, he is already thinking about how to get other partners in his alliance – North Korea, Iran… and he will give them access,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
“This is very rich land. This does not mean that we are giving it away to anyone, even to strategic partners. We are talking about partnership…
“Let’s develop this together, make money, and most importantly, it’s about the security of the Western world.”
The Ukrainian president added that Kyiv and the White House were discussing the idea of using the country’s underground gas storage sites to store American liquefied natural gas, calling it “very interesting”.
He also said he would like to discuss the US having priority when it came to rebuilding Ukraine, saying it would amount to “a lot of money for business”.
‘Not accepting Russia’s ultimatums’
He also insisted that Mr Trump must meet with him before he meets with the Russian president, “otherwise it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
He added: “I don’t know what compromises can be discussed at the negotiating table, we have not reached that point…
“It is important for people to understand that Ukraine is negotiating, not accepting ultimatums from Russia.”
He also stressed Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement.
It comes as Mr Trump said he may meet with Mr Zelenskyy in the White House as early as next week. The two last met in New York in September last year.
Mr Trump also repeated his interest in meeting the Russian president with whom he said he always had a “good relationship”.
Speaking to reporters while meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Mr Trump said: “I’d like to see it end, just on a human basis. I’d like to see that end. It’s a ridiculous war.”
Mr Zelenskyy also told Reuters in his interview that thousands of North Korean soldiers have now returned to fight Kyiv’s forces in the Kursk region of Russia.
Hamas has released the names of three Israeli hostages it says it will release today in the fifth such swap of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The hostages are Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy, Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a Telegram post.
An Israeli official confirmed Israel had received the three names from Hamas.
In return for the captives’ release, Hamas said it expects 183 Palestinian prisoners to be released.
Image: Jabalia, in northern Gaza, after months of Israeli attacks.
Pic: Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Both Mr Ami, 56, and Mr Sharabi, 52, were taken from Kibbutz Be’eri during the 7 October attack. The cross-border attack saw around 1,200 Israelis killed and around 250 people taken hostage.
Mr Levy, 34, was abducted from the Nova music festival.
Of the Palestinian prisoners being freed, 18 have been serving life sentences, 54 were serving long sentences and the vast majority, 111, were detained in Gaza during the war.
Eli Sharabi
Mr Sharabi’s wife Lianne Sharabi was born in Bristol.
She, along with their children, 16-year-old Noiya and 13-year-old Yahel, were killed in the 7 October attack.
His brother Yossi was also killed after being taken hostage.
In a statement after news he would be released was announced, Mr Sharabi’s lawyers said the “family has already lost too much… [they] are pleased and relieved that Eli Sharabi is reportedly on the list for release by Hamas”.
It added: “It is long past time to bring Eli home.”
Or Levy
Mr Levy was captured by militants from a bomb shelter near the Nova music festival.
His wife Einav was killed during the 7 October attack. Their son Almog, a toddler, is staying with his grandparents.
Mr Levy is from the city of Rishon Lezion, where he worked as a computer programmer.
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2:40
Michael Levy speaks to Sky News about his brother
Some of Mr Levy’s family previously spoke about his kidnapping and the death of his wife.
Speaking around Hanukkah last year, his brother Michael Levy told Sky News’s Yousra Elbagir: “I have three little girls but it won’t be the same. Hanukkah is a happy holiday – you light candles, you sing and eat all sorts of things but for us it is not a real holiday without Or.”
Ohad Ben Ami
Mr Ben Ami, a father of three, was taken hostage with his wife Raz, who was released during the brief ceasefire period in November.
His daughter Ella Ben Ami previously spoke to Sky News about missing her dad Mr Ami, as she pleaded for his release.
“On the eve of Christmas, on the 24 December, it will be his birthday, and I don’t want to celebrate it without him,” she told Sky News in 2023.
Ms Ami was previously one of the first to tell the world what happened on 7 October, calling an Israeli TV channel while hiding.
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1:11
Ella Ben Ami: ‘I miss my Dad and I need my Dad with me’ this Christmas Eve
Row over aid access
Earlier on Friday, Hamas accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire accord and held off announcing the names of the Israeli hostages until the deadline had passed.
The militant group claimed Israel delayed the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying food and other humanitarian supplies agreed under the truce deal and held back all but a fraction of the tents and mobile homes needed to provide people shelter in the devastated enclave.
“This demonstrates clear manipulation of relief and shelter priorities,” Hamas said in a statement.
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17:34
Trump 100 Day 17: Can Trump take over the Gaza Strip?
COGAT, the Israeli military agency that is overseeing the aid deliveries into Gaza, denied the accusation.
It added Israel would “not tolerate violations by Hamas”.
The claims and counter-claims highlight the fragility and uncertainty of the ceasefire.
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1:09
Gaza ceasefire deal explained
This has been heightened by US President Donald Trump recently saying the US could take over Gaza and move the Palestinian population out.
Israel’s air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced the majority of the strip’s population.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Donald Trump “let’s do a deal” as he offered the US a partnership over Ukraine’s stores of rare earth and minerals.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump said he wanted Ukraine to supply the US with critical resources in exchange for financial support in its war with Russia.
In an interview with Reuters on Friday, Mr Zelenskyy said: “If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it.”
While emphasising that Kyiv was not proposing “giving away” its resources, he said he was open to a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them jointly.
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals that are vital in the production of high-performance magnets, electric motors and consumer electronics.
Mr Zelenskyy touted the country’s reserves of titanium and uranium as Europe’s largest.
More on Donald Trump
Related Topics:
According to the World Economic Forum, Ukrainealso has the potential to become a key supplier of lithium, beryllium, manganese, gallium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite and nickel.
Showing a map of Ukraine’s mineral deposits, he then said Russiacurrently has control of less than 20% of the country’s mineral resources – but that includes about half its rare earth deposits.
Image: Zelenskyy said Ukraine has Europe’s largest stores of titanium and uranium. Pic: Reuters
“Putin is not just grabbing them [minerals] along with the land, he is already thinking about how to get other partners in his alliance – North Korea, Iran… and he will give them access,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
“This is very rich land. This does not mean that we are giving it away to anyone, even to strategic partners. We are talking about partnership…
“Let’s develop this together, make money, and most importantly, it’s about the security of the Western world.”
The Ukrainian president added that Kyiv and the White House were discussing the idea of using the country’s underground gas storage sites to store American liquefied natural gas, calling it “very interesting”.
He also said he would like to discuss the US having priority when it came to rebuilding Ukraine, saying it would amount to “a lot of money for business”.
‘Not accepting Russia’s ultimatums’
He also insisted that Mr Trump must meet with him before he meets with the Russian president, “otherwise it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
He added: “I don’t know what compromises can be discussed at the negotiating table, we have not reached that point…
“It is important for people to understand that Ukraine is negotiating, not accepting ultimatums from Russia.”
He also stressed Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement.
It comes as Mr Trump said he may meet with Mr Zelenskyy in the White House as early as next week. The two last met in New York in September last year.
Mr Trump also repeated his interest in meeting the Russian president with whom he said he always had a “good relationship”.
Speaking to reporters while meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Mr Trump said: “I’d like to see it end, just on a human basis. I’d like to see that end. It’s a ridiculous war.”
Mr Zelenskyy also told Reuters in his interview that thousands of North Korean soldiers have now returned to fight Kyiv’s forces in the Kursk region of Russia.