US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed gratitude towards Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for his pivotal role in mediating a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas during a phone call on Sunday. This call coincided with the commencement of the initial phase of the agreement, marked by the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas and its allies. This release is the first of 33 hostages who are expected to be freed over the coming weeks. In reciprocation, 90 Palestinian prisoners were also released, with nearly 2,000 more Palestinian prisoners slated for release as part of the comprehensive agreement.
During the call, Blinken and the Qatari Prime Minister discussed the imperative of post-conflict planning in Gaza. Blinken emphasized the importance of collaborating to establish enduring peace in the region, as highlighted by the State Department.
