Qatar said on Friday that it was trying to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and exchange prisoners “as soon as possible.”

This was stated by the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, during a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albarez, in Madrid, according to a broadcast carried by the Qatari Al Jazeera channel.

The Qatari Foreign Minister said: “We are trying to reach a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible,” stressing that it is a “moral obligation.”

He added: "We are trying to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement as quickly as possible."

He continued: "We count on our partners to exert all forms of pressure to achieve a ceasefire and start a political process."

With the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and the participation of the United States, Israel and Hamas have been conducting faltering indirect negotiations for months, while the Israeli war on Gaza has continued since October 7, 2023.

The Qatari official stressed that "an immediate ceasefire is the only way to reduce the escalation on all fronts."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani heads the delegation of the State of Qatar at the opening of the first Qatari-Spanish strategic dialogue, which is being held today in Madrid, according to a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

The dialogue aims to improve cooperation relations between the two friendly countries, especially in the fields of politics, defence, security, justice, trade, investment, education, culture and innovation.

It also discusses developments in regional and international issues, especially the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip, and the necessity of strengthening efforts aimed at an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid in a sustainable and unhindered manner to all areas of the Strip.

The Israeli war on Gaza, which enjoys absolute American support, left more than 123,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, putting Tel Aviv into international isolation and causing it to be prosecuted before the International Court of Justice.

Israel continues its war despite two UN Security Council resolutions to stop it immediately, and orders from the International Court of Justice to end the Rafah invasion, take measures to prevent acts of “genocide,” and improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.