Qatar’s Prime Minister stated on Wednesday that alleged Israeli violations of the Gaza ceasefire are endangering the entire agreement, following discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, called for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and for the second phase of the deal to begin.
The remarks were made on December 18, 2025, during the seventh U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. Sheikh Mohammed said that “delays and ceasefire violations endanger the entire process and place mediators in a difficult position,” according to a statement. He added that humanitarian assistance must be delivered to Gaza “unconditionally.”
The discussions occurred amid reports of ceasefire violations and concerns over humanitarian conditions in Gaza. One focal point was a recent Israeli strike that killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in Gaza City. Following the event, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters his administration was “looking into” whether the strike constituted a breach of the agreement. U.S. officials informed the news outlet Axios that the White House had communicated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the matter.
Israeli and Hamas officials have issued conflicting statements on adherence to the ceasefire. Netanyahu defended the strike on Saad, stating that Hamas had violated the agreement by attempting to rearm. On Saturday, he said Israel was “nearing the end of the first phase” and was working to secure the remains of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, a captive held in Gaza.
Conversely, Hamas’s Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, said on Sunday that continued Israeli violations “threaten the viability of the agreement” and called on President Trump to ensure Israel’s compliance with its terms.
Humanitarian organizations have reported on the conditions in Gaza, which have been affected by winter storms. According to the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, a 29-day-old infant, Said Asad Abedin, died from hypothermia. This followed the death of another infant from similar causes earlier in the week, bringing the reported total of weather-related fatalities to 13.
The United Nations reports that storm damage has impacted the shelters of approximately 30,000 children. The U.N. also stated that Israel has blocked the entry of essential winter supplies, including tents and blankets. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, aid delivery remains limited, with the office reporting that 39 percent of allocated trucks have reached their destinations within the territory.
The second phase of the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement includes provisions for Hamas to disarm, for Israeli forces to withdraw, and for the deployment of an international stabilization force.
In the context of prisoner exchanges, reports based on testimonies from released Palestinian prisoners and the condition of bodies returned by Israel have included allegations of abuse. Israel has returned the bodies of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.
