Qatar's prime minister emphasized the urgent need to end the Israel-Hamas conflict and prevent escalation while speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
"Now we are focused on the priority of how to end this war and how to avoid further escalation," Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said.
Al-Thani, who is also the foreign minister, said some countries believe "that in order to get a ceasefire, it’s conditional to have the hostage deal. It shouldn’t be conditioned."
"What should be conditional is the humanitarian catastrophe over there; we feel for all the people. The crimes are condemned, whoever is the perpetrator," he added.
Recent talks in Cairo between Qatar, Egypt, Israel and the US have yet to result in a deal.
US President Joe Biden said Friday that he’s had “extensive conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he has relayed his position that there should be a temporary ceasefire to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.