WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have discussed the humanitarian assistance into Gaza and release of all hostages held by Hamas, a White House statement said on Friday.
Biden, who is in San Francisco for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, in the telephonic conversation also referred to Israel’s decision to allowed two tankers of diesel each day to enter into war-hit Gaza Strip, after pleas from the United States. Both leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to enhance the flow of urgently required humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Qatari Emiri Diwan in its statement said that the two sides discussed strategic ties between the two countries and ways to strengthen them.
Qatar Emir, Bahrain’s King discuss developments in Gaza
According to the Diwan, Sheikh Tamim also held a call with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The two leaders talked about developments in Gaza, as well as other regional and international matters of mutual interest.
Earlier Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister travelled to Manama for meetings with the Bahrain’s crown prince and other top officials.
US President Biden two days earlier, had said he was hopeful of reaching a deal to release free the hostages, including 10 US nationals.
Israeli strikes in Gaza have so far killed more than 12,000 Palestinians, including women and children, while others are facing starvation and struggling to survive, with essential supplies blockaded. Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been destroyed in the Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Legal experts said that Israel could face war crimes charges over the crisis in Gaza. Five nations, including South Africa on Friday called for an International Criminal Court (ICC) probe into Gaza war that has left thousands of people dead, its chief prosecutor announced.
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ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan stated that South Africa, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Djibouti and Comoros all ICC members had sought a probe of “the situation in the state of Palestine.”
Karim Khan added that a probe into events in Gaza and the occupied West Bank began in March 2021 now “extends to the current escalation of violence since the October, 7.” Khan recently visited the main crossing point between Egypt and Gaza, maintained his team had taken a “significant volume” of evidences on the Gaza war.
