Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discussed the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during a question-and-answer session at the Oxford Union on 6 November 2026, calling for a lasting ceasefire and political process to address regional instability.
Addressing the Gaza conflict, Sheikh Mohammed said the agreement reached had focused on hostage releases but had not developed into a full ceasefire. “Until we get it to become a ceasefire and we see the withdrawal and we see a real political horizon for the Palestinians, these problems are going to reoccur again and again,” he said.
He also criticised the continuation of hostilities despite ceasefire arrangements, arguing that “ignoring the rule-based order” and “international law” risked increasing tensions across the region.
Sheikh Mohammed has played a key role in Qatar’s mediation efforts throughout the Gaza war, working alongside Egypt and the United States in negotiations on ceasefire proposals, hostage releases and humanitarian arrangements. Qatar has described its role as that of a facilitator of dialogue between the parties.
As the Gaza conflict remains unresolved, discussions continue over ceasefire implementation, humanitarian access, reconstruction and the territory’s future governance. Mediators, including Qatar, continue efforts to prevent renewed escalation and support a longer-term political settlement.
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