Qatar says Unrwa should not be punished over alleged actions of individuals

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani says discussions have moved towards the possibility of a permanent ceasefire in the near future.

In a talk with the Washington-based think tank the Atlantic Council, the prime minister said that putting an end to the war is not just a demand coming from Gaza, but also from the entire region.

In response to a question about Israel's allegations that 12 Unrwa employees were involved in the 7 October attacks, Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of continuing funding to the agency.

"It's the only agency that can provide help and aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank," he said.

"If there are claims against some of the staff … these claims need to be investigated," he continued.

He said the claims have been made against a "small group of people among tens of thousands who are working in Unrwa. It cannot be a way to label an entire agency as violating or adopting such acts".