Qatar opened the Doha Forum with a stark warning that Gaza ceasefire talks have entered a critical moment, as officials said the current pause in fighting cannot yet be described as a lasting halt to hostilities.

Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani set the tone early, telling delegates that negotiations over Gaza remain fragile. He said the pause now in place falls short of a true ceasefire, stressing that only a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and restored stability would allow Gaza’s residents to move freely again. The message was measured but direct, a reminder that regional diplomacy is wrestling with conditions that are still unsettled.

He noted that mediators remain in close coordination as they search for the next steps toward a more durable halt to hostilities. Türkiye’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan described the ongoing conversations around an international stabilisation force for Gaza as complex. He said Ankara is ready to contribute but warned that any mission must begin with clearly defined responsibilities, from separating Palestinians and Israelis at the border to resolving the long list of operational questions that remain open.

Ukraine’s future featured strongly as well. The U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said discussions have brought the sides closer to peace than at any point since the conflict began. He cautioned, however, that the path ahead is uncertain, and any potential deal still requires agreement on issues that have proven difficult to align. He said NATO must stay firm as hybrid threats from Russia continue.

Energy security shaped another part of the agenda. Qatar’s energy minister Saad Al Kaabi said he expects the EU to resolve its remaining sustainability legislation concerns by the end of the year. He delivered an upbeat assessment of long term LNG demand, pointing to rapid growth in Asia and the rising power needs driven by AI. His warning was directed elsewhere: without new investment, supply may fall short and trigger volatile price increases.

The Doha Forum continues with high level discussions on mediation, security and the shifting balance of global influence.

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