Doha: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, affirmed that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, held in Doha yesterday to address the Israeli aggression, was a clear demonstration of Arab and Islamic steadfastness, as well as solidarity with the State of Qatar.
He stressed that Qatar highly values these firm positions and extends its profound appreciation to Their Majesties, Highnesses, and Excellencies, the leaders who responded on such short notice to participate in the summit.
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' weekly briefing, Dr. Al Ansari stressed that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha sent an unequivocal message that any attack on the State of Qatar is unacceptable to the Arab and Islamic nations as a whole.
He pointed out that the statement issued by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at its extraordinary session in Doha yesterday included clear measures to address the Israeli attack. He added that this message of solidarity was significant and resonated internationally -- not only in Qatar and across Arab and Islamic countries, but also worldwide.
He noted that the statement explicitly referred to one of the Council's established mechanisms, which is activated when any of its member states is subjected to aggression. Accordingly, the extraordinary session was convened in Doha in solidarity with the State of Qatar, marking an important step in reaffirming the GCC's firm stance against attacks on any of its members by external parties.
Dr. Al Ansari reiterated that the State of Qatar deeply values this position, and that measures at the executive level will be implemented in the coming days.
In response to a question regarding the imminent signing of a joint defense agreement between the State of Qatar and the United States, and the related statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Dr. Al Ansari noted that the matter has been under discussion between the two countries for a long time and is currently in preparation.
He emphasized that the defense partnership between the State of Qatar and the United States has always been robust, particularly in recent years, and continues to grow significantly, representing a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
However, he clarified that he did not have technical details at this stage concerning the potential defense agreement between the two countries.
In this context, Dr. Al Ansari praised the strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the United States, particularly in the field of defense, noting that these ties have witnessed steady growth across various sectors in recent years.
He affirmed that the State of Qatar is continuing its efforts to conclude this defense agreement, which was among the topics discussed during the US Secretary of State's visit to Doha today.
Meanwhile, Dr. Al Ansari stressed that Qatar does not address its strong bilateral relations with the United States through media reports, but rather through official channels.
He noted that the US administration has issued clear statements in this regard, and that close communication between the two sides is ongoing.
In this regard, he stressed that the official US position on bilateral relations with Qatar is well known to all. As for individual media reports, Qatar neither engages with them nor builds upon them in the context of bilateral relations. He noted that the statement made yesterday by US President Donald Trump was not the first of its kind.
Dr. Al Ansari added that this was not the first occasion on which President Trump had emphasized this matter; he had also reaffirmed this position during his call with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the time of the Israeli attack on Qatar.
He continued that this is a clear message that the US position is firm regarding any attack on a country that is a strategic ally of the United States, and there is no doubt that communications are ongoing in this regard.
In response to a question about the Israeli Prime Minister's statement yesterday that the attack on Qatar had not failed and that it conveyed a message, Dr. Al Ansari said: “We are accustomed to the Israeli Prime Minister attempting to justify his failures after every setback resulting from his reckless policies. That is why his message came in this form."
He added: "We also want to send him a message -- that the reckless violation of international law cannot continue, and that targeting a state acting as a mediator is in itself a clear indication that he has no respect for the international community or the principle of mediation.
It also demonstrates that he does not even consider the return of his own citizens held hostage in the Gaza Strip to be a priority. His message, therefore, was clear to the international community, which responded through the UN Security Council meeting, as well as through the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit held yesterday in Doha."
Regarding Qatar's mediation to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Al Ansari said that it does not seem realistic at the present time, especially since the Israeli Prime Minister seeks to assassinate anyone negotiating with him and to target the mediating country with attacks.
He reiterated that Qatar is currently fully focused on defending its national sovereignty, responding to the treacherous Israeli attack, taking all necessary measures to ensure that it is not repeated, and holding those responsible accountable. "All other political considerations are now secondary to the situation we are dealing with today," he stressed.
He said that Qatar fully understands the United States' appreciation of its role in mediating and assisting in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. In this context, he welcomed the extensive cooperation between the two countries on many issues -- not only in Gaza but also globally.
Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari indicated at the beginning of the media briefing that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met Tuesday in his office at the Amiri Diwan with HE Secretary of State of the friendly United States of America Marco Rubio and the accompanying delegation on the occasion of their visit to the country.
During the meeting, they discussed the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them, especially in the defense fields, in addition to the latest regional and international developments of mutual interest, foremost among them the repercussions of the treacherous Israeli attack on Doha.
He stated that the meeting, attended by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also addressed the future of joint diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and the de-escalation of tensions in the region in general.
Dr. Al Ansari also discussed the outcomes of the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit inaugurated yesterday by HH the Amir to discuss the treacherous Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar, with the participation of Their Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses, and leaders of delegations from Arab and Islamic countries, 57 states in total, who expressed their full solidarity with the State of Qatar and their condemnation of the treacherous and blatant Israeli aggression against its sovereignty.
He said that HH the Amir held, on the sidelines of the summit, a consultative meeting with his brothers, Their Highnesses and Excellencies, leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and heads of delegations. His Highness also met, on the sidelines of the summit, with a number of Their Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses, and leaders of delegations.
Dr. Al Ansari noted, in a related context, that HH the Amir also held a virtual meeting alongside HM King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and HE President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, with HE President Emmanuel Macron of the friendly French Republic, HE Prime Minister of the friendly United Kingdom Keir Starmer, and HE Prime Minister of the friendly Canada Dr. Mark Carney.
He explained that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit was preceded by a preparatory meeting of foreign ministers, during which HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani expressed in his opening remarks Qatar’s deep appreciation for the broad solidarity from brotherly Arab and Islamic countries and friendly nations in the international community against the barbaric Israeli attack on Qatar.
He pointed out that HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with a number of ministers and officials on the sidelines of the summit.
His Excellency also met last Sunday with HE British National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell, and Commander of the United States Central Command Admiral Charles Bradford Cooper.
He also noted that HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi headed the Qatari delegation last Thursday at the 8th Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue Between the GCC and the Russian Federation in Sochi, Russia, where His Excellency met on the sidelines of the meeting with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.
He explained that within the framework of the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Arab-Islamic Summit, HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdel Aati.
Her Excellency also met with HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov.
Last Thursday, Her Excellency met with HE Minister of International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of Sweden Benjamin Dousa, and received a phone call from HE Minister for International Development of Australia Anne Aly.
The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the weekly media briefing, pointed out that an emergency session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) was held Tuesday in Geneva regarding the attack on the State of Qatar, during which HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad delivered Qatar’s statement.
She affirmed that Israel deliberately targeted the State of Qatar (the mediator) to sabotage peace efforts, and that Israel’s targeting of peace efforts disrupts the opportunity to save lives in the Gaza Strip.
She stated that the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar is part of a broader campaign aimed at undermining and discrediting its efforts.
Her Excellency also affirmed Qatar’s commitment to mediation efforts and the promotion of peace, and stressed Qatar’s unequivocal condemnation of Israel’s aggression against it and its demand for measures to prevent impunity.
On the humanitarian aid level and in continuation of Qatar’s efforts to support the brotherly Syrian people, Dr. Al Ansari stated that the State of Qatar, in cooperation with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, sent humanitarian aid last Thursday to the Syrian Arab Republic.
He mentioned that this humanitarian aid, provided by the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) and Qatar Charity in cooperation with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), included 24 trucks carrying essential food supplies and medicines to various regions in brotherly Syria.
He affirmed that this aid reflects the State of Qatar’s keenness to contribute to meeting the humanitarian and health needs of the brotherly Syrian people and to enhance joint humanitarian work to stand by them.
Regarding Afghanistan, he pointed out that a tenth aircraft belonging to the Qatari Amiri Air Force arrived in the capital, Kabul, carrying urgent medical aid provided by the QFFD to support the health sector, as part of the air bridge operated by the State of Qatar to help alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Afghan people following the earthquake that struck the eastern part of the country.
He said that this aid included essential medicines, intravenous solutions, and a number of vital materials necessary to save lives, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of hospitals and frontline health facilities to meet urgent needs.
