Gaza risks sliding into deadly limbo of no war, no peace', top Qatari diplomat warns

"Gaza risks sliding towards a deadly limbo where a ceasefire is nominally in place but killing continues, a top Qatari diplomat has warned, calling for rapid progress in setting up the international security force and administration to pave the way for full Israeli withdrawal. We don't want to reach a situation of no war, no peace, said Majed al-Ansari, adviser to Qatar's prime minister and spokesperson for the foreign ministry. On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 100 Palestinians, at least 66 of them women and children, in the deadliest day since Donald Trump declared the war was over."

"The ceasefire deal called for an international force to secure Gaza, reducing the risk of violence flaring in the short term and paving the way for the demilitarisation of Hamas and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, which still occupy more than half of Gaza. Getting the international force in place fast, along with a new Palestinian administration, was critical for the fragile pause to become a more lasting peace, Ansari told the Guardian in an interview."

"There is a need for the international community to go in, assess the damage, start thinking about reconstruction, working on reconstruction, and to formally keep the peace, he said. This is what will significantly shift the whole process from war to the day after. The 20-point plan for Gaza's future, which underpins the ceasefire, sidestepped basic details including the force's mandate and membership."

Gaza faces the risk of a deadly limbo in which a nominal ceasefire does not stop killings, prompting urgent calls for rapid establishment of an international security force and administration. Recent Israeli airstrikes killed more than 100 Palestinians, many women and children, highlighting the fragility of the pause. The ceasefire agreement envisions an international force to secure Gaza, support demilitarisation of Hamas and allow full Israeli withdrawal, while Gaza remains more than half occupied. Immediate assessment, reconstruction planning and formal peacekeeping by the international community are required. The underpinning 20-point plan lacks clear mandate and membership details for the force, and UN backing is being pursued through a Security Council resolution.

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