Doha: Qatar and the UK engaged in discussions on Saturday about ensuring the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The agreement, which includes a prisoner exchange, is set to commence on Sunday morning. These discussions took place during a phone call between Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two officials deliberated on measures to guarantee the complete execution of the ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners. Sheikh Mohammed conveyed Qatar's hope that all parties would adhere to the full implementation of the agreement. Additionally, the agency noted that the ministers also discussed recent developments in Syria and explored ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and relations between Qatar and the UK.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Qatar announced a three-phase ceasefire agreement intended to end more than 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire is scheduled to take effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) on Sunday. Since October 7, 2023, nearly 47,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed, and more than 110,700 injured in what local health authorities describe as Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.

In a related development, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Furthermore, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.