Qatar’s leadership ‘essential’ in restoring dialogue and building peace: French MP

DOHA: As the first phase of the ceasefire agreement went into effect in Gaza, Deputy of the French National Assembly and Secretary General of the Parl...

DOHA: As the first phase of the ceasefire agreement went into effect in Gaza, Deputy of the French National Assembly and Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), Amélia Lakrafi, commended Qatar’s decisive mediation and leadership, describing it as “essential and complementary” to regional peace efforts.

In an interview with The Peninsula in correspondence, Lakrafi highlighted that the recent truce in Gaza “would not have been possible without the joint engagement of Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, whose mediation and coordination were decisive from the earliest negotiations on hostage releases and regional stabilisation.”

“I wish to sincerely thank both Qatar and Saudi Arabia for their leadership and constant commitment to peace. These are nations resolutely oriented toward dialogue and the future,” she said. Lakrafi commended Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their “personal commitment and their leadership in restoring communication and regional coordination.” She emphasised that “together, Doha and Riyadh have become pillars of regional mediation, trusted by all sides precisely because they speak to everyone.”

According to Lakrafi, “France recognises and values this ability to bring people together, calm tensions, and build bridges. Their humanitarian engagement, particularly in Gaza, shows that the peace of tomorrow will depend on these bridges of dialogue and solidarity between peoples.”

Lakrafi was part of the French delegation that attended several meetings held alongside the 2025 UN General Assembly in New York. When President of the French Republic H E Emmanuel Macron announced France’s recognition of State of Palestine at the UN, Lakrafi described it as a profoundly moving moment. After years of advocating for this cause, as a French parliamentarian, a daughter of immigrants, and a Muslim woman, she felt deep personal emotion.