On Thursday, Qatar and the United States held discussions on steps to begin implementing the imminent truce agreement between Hamas and Israel, at a time when the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip for 48 days.

These discussions took place during a phone call received by Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani from his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, according to the official Qatar News Agency.

The agency said that during the call, steps were discussed to start implementing the truce agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and with the support of Egypt and the United States, proceeding with the procedures for releasing civilians, and the importance of increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday morning, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it would be announced “in the coming hours” that a truce between Hamas and Israel would take effect, lasting for several days and subject to extension, and including an exchange of prisoners and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

During the call, Al Thani stressed "the necessity of continuing efforts to stop the war in Gaza," and that "the only guarantee for achieving sustainable peace in the Middle East region is reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue."

He stressed that this solution should be "in accordance with the Arab Initiative and the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent, viable State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the Palestinian people’s enjoyment of their inalienable rights."

Meanwhile, Blinken expressed “his country’s thanks to the State of Qatar for its decisive role in the mediation that led to the truce, stressing that his country remains committed to the two-state solution,” according to the agency.