Doha: During a high-level session today, the Doha Forum 2025 examined how regional and international actors are responding to the repercussions of the recent escalation in Gaza, amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
According to Qatar News Agency, speakers in the session – titled “Gaza Calculus: Reassessing Global Responsibilities and Pathways to Peace” and moderated by Dr. Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group – discussed how global and regional stakeholders are engaging with the political and humanitarian consequences of the conflict, and how external involvement shapes the trajectory of the crisis, whether by advancing de-escalation efforts or adding complexity to the situation.
In this context, HE Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares affirmed that there is a glimmer of hope to swiftly move to the second phase of the process aimed at fully consolidating the ceasefire, stressing that the ongoing weekly toll of civilian casualties is unacceptable.
His Excellency called for large-scale, UN-coordinated humanitarian assistance to be allowed into Gaza – delivered independently and impartially – and emphasized the need to ensure that Gaza’s residents have normal access to essential services. He also underscored the necessity of placing the Palestinian Authority at the heart of any future transitional arrangements, warning that the PA’s potential financial collapse would be disastrous for Palestinians and the region as a whole.
For her part, Minister Plenipotentiary in the Office of the Saudi Foreign Minister, Dr. Manal Radwan stated that implementing the two-state solution remains the only viable path to achieving security for all. She noted that the Global Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution is the product of extensive diplomatic efforts and aligns fully with the twenty-point peace plan jointly drafted by Arab and Islamic countries in cooperation with the United States.
“Gaza is not a separate issue but an integral part of the Palestinian cause,” she stressed, adding that no phase of the plan can be advanced without maintaining the ultimate objective of establishing a Palestinian state. She explained that without guaranteeing the political and security rights of Palestinians, there can be no security for any party, including Israel.
Dr. Radwan also pointed out that the current Israeli government openly rejects the two-state solution and does not present itself as a credible partner for peace – or even for a sustainable ceasefire.
The session forms part of the forum’s broader themes on conflict mediation and peacebuilding, global governance and multilateralism, humanitarian access, and crisis response, and is held in partnership with the International Crisis Group.