BEIRUT 

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Tuesday that Doha will help rebuild southern Lebanon following the devastating war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, emphasizing the need for Israel’s withdrawal from the area.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Beirut after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s support for Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts.

Earlier in the day, he arrived at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport for a one-day visit.

During the press conference, he described his visit as a show of support for Lebanon, affirming that “Qatar will be actively involved in Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts.”

He welcomed Aoun’s election as president and expressed hope for the swift formation of a new Lebanese government to fulfill the aspirations of the Lebanese people.

Lebanon’s parliament elected Aoun on Jan. 9 after more than two years of political deadlock, with 99 lawmakers out of 128 voting in his favor.

Days after his election, Aoun appointed Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to form a new government after Salam secured 84 votes in parliament.

Call for Israeli withdrawal

Sheikh Mohammed also reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese army and stressed the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to uphold Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, the resolution called for a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel and established a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line -- the UN-designated line which set the limits for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 -- and the Litani River, permitting only Lebanese forces and peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the area.

Sheikh Mohammed underscored the importance of enforcing the ceasefire agreement and withdrawing Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Doha firmly rejects Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement and its incursions into Lebanese airspace, he said.

In recent days, Israel has intensified its attacks on southern Lebanese villages as residents continue returning to their homes, defying Israeli military threats.

A fragile cease-fire has been in place since Nov. 27, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that began on Oct. 8, 2023 and escalated into a full-scale conflict on Sept. 23 last year.

Since the cease-fire took effect, Israel has committed at least 672 violations, killing and injuring dozens in Lebanon, including women and children.

Israel was supposed to complete the army’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26 under the ceasefire deal, but it refused and the deadline was extended to Feb. 18.

-Gaza ceasefire agreement

Addressing the Palestinian situation, Sheikh Mohammed criticized Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and its rejection of peace initiatives.

“There will be no stability in the Middle East as long as Israel continues its reckless policies, which Qatar categorically rejects,” he said.

He stressed Doha’s commitment to sustaining the Gaza ceasefire and achieving its final stages, including an Israeli withdrawal.

The first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement took hold in Gaza on Jan. 19, halting Israel’s war, which killed more than 47,500 people and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

-Lebanon-Qatar relations

According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, Aoun praised Qatar’s support for Lebanon in various sectors and expressed hope for the return of Qatari nationals to Lebanon once Israel’s aggression ceases.

Sheikh Mohammed also met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss political and security developments, regional affairs and bilateral relations, Berri’s office said.

Berri thanked Qatar for its longstanding support of Lebanon and briefed Sheikh Mohammed on Israeli violations of the ceasefire and Resolution 1701, pledging to provide documented evidence of daily breaches.

Additionally, the Qatari prime minister held talks with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

A statement from Salam’s office said he appreciated Qatar’s willingness to assist Lebanon during this critical period. No statement was issued from Mikati’s office.