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Jerusalem and Gaza CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday a ground incursion into Gaza will take place and that current airstrikes were “just the beginning,” as new satellite images revealed the devastation wrought by Israel’s bombs in the besieged enclave. Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on May 1 Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on October 21 Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies Beit Hanoun, Gaza SATELLITE IMAGE ©2023 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIESThe IDF told civilians to leave the crowded northern portion of the Palestinian enclave, where the bombardment has been especially severe. UNRWA director for Gaza Tom White told CNN that aid workers would have to decide what aspects of life-saving aid they could and could not provide to civilians. A view of the rubble and ruins of buildings that were demolished in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on October 25, 2023. US President Joe Biden said Wednesday he told Netanyahu that if it’s possible to secure the release of hostages in Gaza ahead of an Israeli ground invasion, he should do so.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Israel, “, –, ”, Peter Lerner, Maxar, Beit, Al Jazeera, Wael Al, Al, CPJ, Youssef Alzanoun, OCHA, Gaza Tom White, Mark Rutte, Hamas –, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, he’d Organizations: Gaza CNN, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, Palestinian Ministry of Health, IDF, Protect Journalists, UN Relief and Works Agency, UN’s, US, European, Dutch, Ireland, Getty Images Qatar, Hamas, Qatari Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, ”, Beit Hanoun, Al, Atatra, Hanoun, Ramallah, Israeli, Al Jazeera, Lebanese, Russia, Slovenia, Egypt, Germany

☆ Qatar's prime minister: Hostage release talks progressing, hopeful for breakthrough 'soon'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani makes statements to the media with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Doha, Qatar, October 13, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDOHA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Qatar's prime minister said on Wednesday that negotiations the Gulf Arab state is leading to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are progressing and he is hopeful there will soon be a breakthrough. Qatar's foreign ministry urged de-escalation and warned that an Israeli ground assault on the densely populated enclave would make freeing hostages "much more difficult." "There is some progress and some breakthrough and we remain hopeful," said Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at a press conference in the Qatari capital. Also speaking in Doha, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said an Israeli ground operation into Gaza would turn the fighting there into a massacre.

Persons: Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Antony Blinken, Jacquelyn Martin, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Mohammed, Majed Al Ansari, Hakan Fidan, Fidan, Andrew Mills, Nayera Abdallah, Maha El, Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Qatar's, U.S, Rights, Qatar, Turkish, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Gaza, Thani, Israel, Israeli, Ukraine, Russia

Qatar, a wealthy Gulf Arab state with diplomatic ambitions, is pressing both sides to engage in more talks and reach "understandings," sources told Reuters earlier. The diplomat described the New York meetings as "talks for talks," saying the idea was to lay the ground for future indirect discussions to achieve an "understanding" on the nuclear issue. Washington suspects Iran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies. The United States also says Iran has provided one-way attack drones for Russia to strike Ukraine and wants Tehran to stop. The Biden administration's efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal have failed and many diplomats now regard it as beyond resurrection because of Iran's nuclear advances.

Persons: Hossein Amir, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Majid Asgaripour, spokespeople, Donald Trump, Iran's, Biden, Antony Blinken, We'll, we're, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Landay, Arshad Mohammed, Humeyra Pamuk, John Irish, Howard Goller Organizations: Iran's, West Asia News Agency, UNITED NATIONS, Qatari, Reuters, General Assembly, New, U.S, United, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, WASHINGTON, Qatar, United States, Russia, Doha, U.S, Gulf Arab, New York, Ukraine, Washington, European, Oman, Saint Paul , Minnesota, Paris

☆ Senior Russian lawmaker calls for professional army of seven million
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, who early in the 16-month war took part in peace negotiations with Ukraine, said that Russia needs a contract army of at least seven million military and civilian personnel, on top of the current conscript army. He said Wagner fighters can continue fighting with Russian army, go home or go to Belarus. At the end of 2022, Putin backed beefing up the army to 1.5 million combat personnel - including 695,000 contract soldiers - from 1.15 million. Creating a contract army of seven million would require a huge budget allowance. The Russian economy, crippled by the war and subsequent Western sanctions contracted 2.2% percent last year and is expected to rebound only marginally this year.

Persons: Leonid Slutsky, Sergei Lavrov, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Evgenia, weekend's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Lidia Kelly, Stephen Coates Organizations: Russia's, Russian, Qatari Deputy, Foreign, REUTERS, Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, aborting, Belarus, Melbourne

☆ Qatar and UAE embassies resume work on Monday, Qatar's foreign ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on July 14, 2017. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates' respective embassies reopened on Monday to resume work after the two Gulf states agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said. The restoration of ties comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation and more than two years after Arab states ended a boycott of Doha that had shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc. The Qatari ministry said in a statement that the two foreign ministers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, had held a phone call as the two embassies reopened on Monday. Reuters reported in April that the two Gulf states were in the process of restoring diplomatic relations.

Persons: Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Organizations: Turkish Foreign, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Doha Locations: Qatar, Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al, Thani, Doha, Arab, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Riyadh, Cairo, Saudi, Yemen

☆ Qatar and UAE embassies resume work on Monday -Qatar foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, June 19 (Reuters) - Qatar and the United Arab Emirates' respective embassies reopened on Monday to resume work after the two Gulf states agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said. The restoration of ties comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation and more than two years after Arab states ended a boycott of Doha that had shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc. The Qatari ministry said in a statement that the two foreign ministers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, had held a phone call as the two embassies reopened on Monday. Reuters reported in April that the two Gulf states were in the process of restoring diplomatic relations. Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Andrew Mills, writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by David Goodman and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Nayera Abdallah, Andrew Mills, Aziz El Yaakoubi, David Goodman, Gareth Jones Organizations: DOHA, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Doha, Thomson Locations: Qatar, Doha, Arab, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Riyadh, Cairo, Saudi, Yemen

☆ Arab foreign ministers discuss Syria crisis at Saudi meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Saudi Arabia hosts a meeting of foreign ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to discuss Syria's return to the Arab League in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 14, 2023. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERSCAIRO, April 15 (Reuters) - Gulf Arab foreign ministers and their counterparts from Egypt, Iraq and Jordan discussed Syria's possible return to the Arab fold at a meeting in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The meeting, held in the city of Jeddah, was called by Saudi Arabia, amid a recent thaw in regional tensions, but ended without agreement, the statement said. However, Syria's broader normalisation with the Arab world remains a sensitive issue for several countries. Regional superpower Saudi Arabia, which has long resisted normalisation with Assad, said after a rapprochement with Iran, Syria's key regional ally, a new approach was needed with Damascus.

☆ Reaction to Iran and Saudi Arabia resuming ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

STATEMENT ISSUED BY IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA AND CHINATehran and Riyadh agreed "to resume diplomatic relations between them and re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months". HEZBOLLAHThe head of Lebanon's powerful armed group said the resumption of ties between its backer Iran and longtime rival Saudi Arabia was a "good development". ANWAR GARGASH, DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PRESIDENT"We welcome the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations, and we hail the Chinese role in this regard," he tweeted. QATARPrime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who also acts as foreign minister, called the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia to welcome the deal. IRAQ STATE NEWS AGENCYIraq welcomes "turning a new page" between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

☆ Davos 2023: Qatar says engagement with Taliban needed despite 'disappointing' actions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Qatar's foreign minister said on Tuesday that recent measures taken by Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration were "very disappointing" but that Doha would continue engaging as the only way forward to achieve change on the ground. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Doha was also consulting with other Muslim countries to establish a dialogue with Taliban officials in Kandahar, and while it would "not be an easy job" it was important to keep trying. The Islamist Taliban-led administration, which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, has imposed bans on women working for aid groups or attending universities and high school. Reporting by Mahal El Dahan; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous, Editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Top US diplomat rips FIFA for punishing World Cup players who wear the 'One Love' armband promoting inclusion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Blinken criticized FIFA for threatening to punish World Cup players who wear a "One Love" armband. "As national federations, we can't put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games." The nations decried the FIFA decision as "unprecedented" and said they were "very frustrated." Fans wearing clothing featuring rainbows, a symbol of support for the LGBTQ community, have reported being prevented from entering World Cup stadiums in Qatar. FIFA, soccer's global governing body, previously said fans were "welcome to express themselves; they are welcome to express their love for their partners."

Prince Mohammed was not seen at the match but had been front and centre at the tournament opening on Sunday. It was also a sweet moment for host Qatar, facing intense criticism over human rights in the conservative Muslim country. "The fact that the World Cup is in Qatar and we're Arabs - it gives us a lot of energy and excitement." TOLERANCEBefore the match kicked off, the issue of tolerance arose at a news conference between Qatar's foreign minister and his American counterpart. The Gulf Arab state, which denies discrimination and points to labour reforms enacted, welcomes everyone, its Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said.

The running of the World Cup is the only opportunity that Qatar sees for redemption," said Marc Owen Jones, an associate professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. "The markers of a successful World Cup would be as a nation-branding exercise, to position Qatar as an important sports hub in the Middle East and the wider Arab world," he said. 'HYPOCRISY'The first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, Qatar hailed it as a regional milestone when it was awarded the tournament in 2010. "The reasons given for boycotting the World Cup do not add up. Pressing back against its criticism, Qatar points to labour reforms aimed at protecting migrant workers from exploitation and says the system is a work in progress.

☆ Qatar World Cup ambassador said being gay is 'damage in the mind' in a tense TV interview amid mounting criticism of the hosts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Kit Gillet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An ambassador for the soccer World Cup being held in Qatar made homophobic comments in TV interview. When asked why it was haram, Salman said: "I am not a strict Muslim but why is it haram? Qatar's World Cup organizers declined to comment on the episode when asked by Reuters. It is the latest controversy surrounding the tournament, which is the first time a soccer World Cup is being held in the Middle East. Qatar has reportedly spent over $229 billion on the largest infrastructure project in World Cup history.

☆ Qatar minister accuses Germany of 'double standards' in World Cup criticism
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Qatar's foreign minister has accused Germany of "double standards" over its criticism of the World Cup host's human rights record and has defended its summoning of the German ambassador, in a newspaper interview published on Monday. Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatar's foreign ministry last month summoned the German ambassador over Interior Minister Nancy Faeser's comments that a country's human rights record should be factored into whether they are selected as World Cup host. "We are annoyed by the double standards," he said, adding that Qatar had faced a systematic campaign against it in the 12 years since being selected to host the World Cup that he said no other country had faced. Writing by Miranda Murray, editing by Rachel More and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Qatar minister slams hypocrisy of people calling for World Cup boycott
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 4 (Reuters) - People calling for a boycott of the World Cup in Qatar are from a handful of countries that do not represent the rest of the world which is looking forward to the tournament, Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has said. Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup but the small nation has come under intense pressure in recent years for its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws. "The reasons given for boycotting the World Cup do not add up. Several participating teams such as England, Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands have highlighted the plight of migrant workers in Qatar. The letter was criticised by Amnesty, which has led calls for FIFA to compensate migrant workers in Qatar for human rights abuses by setting aside $440 million.

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