Qatar, France deplore killing, starvation in Gaza; pledge $200m for Palestinians

Both sides sign declaration of intent on cooperation in combating terrorism

QNA

Paris: Qatar and France signed on Wednesday a declaration of intent on bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, financing of terrorism, and extremism.
On the State of Qatar’s side, the agreement was signed by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani. On the French Republic side, the agreement was signed by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs H E Stephane Sejourne. 

Meanwhile, Qatar and France reaffirmed, in a joint communique issued on the occasion of the state visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the French Republic on February 27 and 28, the depth and breadth of their strategic partnership, and their rejection of the killing and starvation suffered by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

In the joint communique, the two countries stressed their opposition to an offensive on Rafah. They called for the opening of all crossings, including in the North of the Gaza Strip to allow for humanitarian actors to resume their activities and notably the delivery of food supply and pledged jointly $200m in support of the Palestinian population.

The President of the French Republic expressed his deep appreciation for Qatar’s mediation efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7 2023. These efforts led to a first humanitarian pause and the release of 105 hostages, the increase in emergency humanitarian assistance into Gaza and simultaneously reduced regional tensions.

Both leaders expressed the necessity for the ongoing mediation efforts to succeed in delivering a truce and the release of hostages, including three French citizens. They praised the recent joint Qatar-France effort in brokering an agreement to bring vital medicines and other humanitarian aid into Gaza for the affected civilian population and for medicine to the remaining hostages.

The leaders stressed the urgent need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, in order to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza on a massive scale and to ensure protection for civilians. They stressed their opposition to an offensive on Rafah. 

They called for the opening of all crossings, including in the North of the Gaza Strip to allow for humanitarian actors to resume their activities and notably the delivery of food supply and pledged jointly 200 Million dollars effort in support of the Palestinian population. The Amir of Qatar expressed his deep appreciation for Qatar’s and France’s continuing and coordinated efforts with regional partners to increase the emergency humanitarian assistance into Gaza and to reduce regional tensions.

They reiterated the constant engagement at the highest levels of their respective governments over the last months in that regard, notably through joint humanitarian operations such as collective airdrops and freight delivery conducted on February 26th and 27th. Both leaders condemned all forms of targeting of civilians. The leaders recalled the necessity to protect journalists working in conflict zones.

They recalled their commitment to advancing decisively an inclusive negotiated political process that achieves a comprehensive, permanent, and just peace and recalled that the only viable solution is the two-state solution, including the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines aiming at Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. 

They reiterated the need for security guarantees for both States in the future, through initiatives aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence. Qatar and France strongly support the historic status quo on the holy sites of Jerusalem.

The leaders also expressed their deep concern over threats on maritime security and navigational freedom in the Red sea, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues in line with UNSCR 2722 (2024) in order to prevent regional tensions and ensure maritime security. They emphasized the need for a cessation of attacks which impede global commerce and undermine navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea.