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The future government of Gaza should be discussed only after the Israeli war ends in the ravaged Palestinian enclave, diplomats and experts have told a conference in Doha.
Israel has said it is aiming to eliminate Hamas and disarm the coastal Gaza Strip as the US explores scenarios including the Palestinian Authority taking control of Gaza when the war ends.
But for many diplomats and experts gathered at the Doha Forum, an annual regional policy and global issues conference, stopping the current war is the priority.
“We have to focus on now, today, not the day after, because without stopping the aggression, the atrocities, every day is going to complicate the day after,” Palestinian UK mission ambassador Husam Zomlot told media on the sidelines of the conference.
“The only way you can deal with the after is the before. We have got to focus on ending the occupation. We need to decide that that has got to go. Without that, there is no day after.”
More than 17,900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly two million people have been displaced since the war began on October 7 following the Hamas attacks.
Across Gaza, food and water supplies are running perilously low as a lack of fuel means communications and essential services such as water desalination are progressively failing, the UN said.
Despite the worsening situation, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Friday calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire after Secretary General Antonio Guterres declared the conflict a threat to world peace and security.
The Arab-drafted resolution tabled by the UAE received 13 votes in favour and an abstention from the UK as well as the US veto.
“The ceasefire should always be the number-one priority for us. This war needs to stop,” said Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi.
“We are disappointed that the Security Council did not take that decision,” he said.
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