PRESS RELEASE : Minister for the Middle East travels to Qatar for the Doha Forum [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 December 2023.

Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad is attending the Doha Forum and holding meetings with senior Qatari leaders to discuss the Israel and Gaza conflict.

• Minister of State for the Middle East Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon returns to Qatar to attend the annual Doha Forum which will bring together regional leaders in policy to discuss critical challenges facing our world
• In addition, Lord Ahmad will hold meetings with the senior Qatari leaders for discussions on the crisis in Israel and Gaza
• The Minister will also hold meetings on Afghanistan focusing on humanitarian, development, security and human rights issues

Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad is in Qatar today (Sunday) to attend the Doha Forum and meet with senior partners to discuss the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza.

Lord Ahmad will be attending the annual Doha Forum which will run under the theme of “Building Shared Futures.” The Forum will host discussions and panel events on key issues, including Afghanistan and the conflict in Israel and Gaza given Qatar’s important role as mediator between Israel and Hamas.

During the visit, the Minister is expected to meet with senior Qatari leaders where he will reiterate the UK’s gratitude to Qatar for their central role in facilitating humanitarian access into Gaza which enabled more desperately needed aid to enter, as well as securing the release of hostages.

He will also emphasise the UK’s commitment to working with partners on preventing the crisis from spreading across the region and delivering a viable two-state solution.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, said:

I am pleased to be returning to Qatar following my recent visit to reiterate the UK’s thanks to our Qatari partners for their huge efforts in securing the recent humanitarian access into Gaza.

It is absolutely critical that we now redouble our efforts to facilitate unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access into Gaza, further substantive agreements to bring respite and deliver vital aid to civilians, and secure the release of hostages out of Gaza.

I will be discussing with leaders in the region how we must work together to find long term solutions to the conflict, to reduce regional escalation and to progress towards a two-state solution that secures peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

In addition to his discussions on Israel and Gaza, Lord Ahmad will also be meeting with policy leaders to discuss the situation in Afghanistan focussing on humanitarian, development, security and human rights issues.

Notes for editors:

• The Doha Forum is a platform for dialogue, the forum brings together leaders in policy to discuss critical challenges facing our world, and builds on innovative and action-driven networks to address these challenges.
• Lord Ahmad also visited Qatar and Bahrain last month (November 18 and 19) for discussions on the crisis in Israel and the OPTs. In a speech at the Manama Dialogue to senior decision makers from the region during his last visited, the Minister reiterated urgent calls for agreements to allow for vital humanitarian aid to be delivered, get hostages released and to facilitate an end to hostilities as a pathway to deliver a viable two state solution.