Palestinian, Qatari leaders discuss efforts to cease-fire in Gaza

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed for the consecutive second day on Thursday as global efforts to enforce a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which is currently under siege and subject to intensified attacks by Israeli forces.

According to a statement released by Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the two leaders discussed "the latest developments as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (and) the joint bilateral and Arab action" to end the Israeli war on Gaza.

They also discussed pursuing a political path that guarantees "the end of the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with international law."

Qatar has been serving as a major mediator between Israel and Palestinian resistance group Hamas, trying to reach a new cease-fire agreement to end the devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of over 27,019 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction throughout the besieged enclave.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar