Top diplomats from the US, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey call for upholding ceasefire obligations and restraint in Gaza following high-level talks in Miami.
MIAMI: The United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey have jointly called for restraint and the upholding of obligations under the Gaza ceasefire.
The call came after top officials from the four nations met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Saturday to review the first stage of the truce.
“We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20-point peace plan and call on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements,” a statement posted by Witkoff said.
The meeting occurred amid continuing strains on the agreement that took effect on October 10.
Gaza’s civil defence said six people were killed on Friday in Israeli shelling of a shelter, bringing the Palestinian death toll from Israeli fire since the deal began to 400.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of violating the truce, reporting that three of its soldiers have been killed in the territory since October.
Saturday’s joint statement cited progress in the first stage, including expanded aid, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals and reduced hostilities.
It called for the “near-term establishment and operationalization” of a transitional administration, a key element of the agreement’s second phase.
Consultations on implementing the next phase will continue in the coming weeks, the statement added.
Under the deal, Israel is to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to replace Hamas in governing the territory, and an international stabilisation force is to be deployed.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope countries would contribute troops to that force.
He also urged the disarmament of Hamas, warning the process would unravel unless that happened.
