Qatar's emir to discuss Gaza with Macron during a state visit to France
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00:00 First, are Israel and Hamas moving closer to a ceasefire in Gaza?
00:06 President Biden appeared optimistic on Monday, saying Israel is ready to sign off on a deal
00:11 as soon as next week.
00:13 But today, Hamas called those comments premature, while the Gulf state of Qatar, which has been
00:19 leading negotiations, says there's no breakthrough for the moment.
00:24 While the emir of Qatar is in fact in Paris this afternoon for a state visit where he
00:29 is to meet the president, Emmanuel Macron.
00:32 Covering the story is Claire Paquelin, our reporter who's at the Elysee Palace for us
00:37 today.
00:38 Claire, we imagine that ceasefire efforts and those to release the hostages are top
00:44 of the agenda today.
00:46 Absolutely.
00:48 The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is absolutely the focus of this visit.
00:54 Hamas has thanked Qatar several times for its role in negotiating.
00:59 First, the deal that we saw last November, which led to a pause, a temporary pause in
01:04 the fighting, the release of some hostages from Gaza in return for the release of Palestinian
01:11 prisoners.
01:12 And France is, of course, very much counting on the talent, the negotiation talent of Qatar
01:18 to facilitate another deal, which could be in the pipeline.
01:22 France saying the release of hostages held in Gaza is, of course, very much a priority.
01:26 There are still three French nationals held in Gaza at the moment.
01:31 And we are also understanding that France is very much saying that a ceasefire is an
01:35 absolute necessity as soon as possible.
01:39 And that access needs to be widened for more humanitarian aid to get into Gaza to help
01:44 civilians in there.
01:46 We know that France and Qatar have been holding joint humanitarian missions together.
01:52 And we saw earlier this year France and Qatar brokering a deal to allow medicines to get
01:57 to Israeli hostages in Gaza.
02:00 So very much this trip is an opportunity for France to show its appreciation for Qatar
02:06 at this moment as a key negotiator, as a key player.
02:10 And what better way to do that than a state visit?
02:13 And as you can see, the red carpet is out, Bahami, the Republican Guard are standing
02:18 ready.
02:19 They are expecting the Emir of Qatar to arrive here at the Elysee Palace very soon and be
02:24 greeted on the steps by President Emmanuel Macron.
02:27 So no surprise then that the situation in Gaza is top of the agenda on this state visit,
02:34 Claire.
02:35 But the French and the Qatari leaders are also looking at ways to strengthen business
02:40 ties.
02:41 Certainly, this is an opportunity for France, and we've heard this from the presidency,
02:46 to illustrate the strong cooperation between France and Qatar on the economic front, on
02:52 development as well.
02:54 There will be an economic forum taking place presided by the prime ministers of each country
03:00 during this visit today and tomorrow.
03:03 And we know that investment opportunities will be discussed on artificial intelligence,
03:08 biotech, tourism, too.
03:10 We're expecting the French culture minister, Rachida Dati, to travel herself to Qatar in
03:15 the coming weeks.
03:16 So this visit is very much an opportunity for France to try to say that it's on the
03:21 same page as Qatar when it comes to development, defense, security, and culture, too.
03:27 And I think you can possibly hear behind me that things are beginning to heat up a little
03:31 bit.
03:32 We are expecting the Emir of Qatar to arrive here at the Elysee Palace very, very shortly